CUMMING — The hunt continues today for two suspects who reportedly shot a 70-year-old woman during an attempted home burglary Monday morning near Lake Lanier northeast of Cumming.

The woman, whose name has not been released, is recovering from two gunshot wounds — one to her arm and a second that entered her stomach and came out of a hip — at a Gainesville hospital, authorities said.

Doug Rainwater, a spokesman for the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, said there is “no doubt in his mind” that the intruders shot first after the woman confronted them in her home on Magnolia Avenue about 10:30 a.m. and that she then returned fire.

According to Rainwater, the encounter was the third of three burglaries Monday morning in the heavily wooded residential area near the lake, though no one was home during the others.

He said the first two burglaries had the same type of entry and that deputies collected fingerprints and evidence, though he couldn’t specify what type, from all three crime scenes.

The sheriff’s office is still looking for information on the suspects, and Rainwater said he was hopeful that people in the area may remember something strange that day. 

Authorities have described the suspects only as a black man and woman. They do not know if either or both were wounded in the shootout, however, they have “zero reason to believe” they are still in the area,” Rainwater said.

According to Rainwater, the suspects were last seen driving away from the area, though authorities do not have a description of the getaway vehicle.

The shooting occurred about 10:30 a.m. Monday. According to Rainwater, the homeowner was asleep at the time.

“From what the investigation has revealed, she was awakened from noise and either came out or they went into her bedroom,” he said. “She either had a gun with her or retrieved a gun and shot back.”

Rainwater added that investigators are treating the situation as a burglary gone wrong and probably won’t have any leads on the suspects unless someone with information about them comes forward.

Violent crime is not common in Forsyth County, where news of the incident surprised neighbors.

Dipali Faldu, who lives on Magnolia Avenue, said the low local crime rate was a reason for moving to Forsyth.

“It’s a pretty good neighborhood,” she said. “It’s quiet and people are like families and they know each other, and every time you need help you go knock on the door.

“[This shooting is] very surprising. I’ve been here about a year and a half and I’ve never heard of anything happening as far as crime.”

Rainwater also called the event a “rarity for the county,” saying he couldn’t recall the last time a case like this actually happened.

Faldu praised law enforcement officers for their prompt response.

“It’s quiet [here],” she said. “Everybody knows everybody … If there’s strange people walking around that they see, and I have noticed a few times that they did see somebody around and called Forsyth County [Sheriff’s Office], they came by right away.

“They make you feel secure.”