LOUISVILLE — A robber fatally shot a bank teller Tuesday and fled the scene with a getaway driver before the two ditched a stolen vehicle just a few blocks away from the scene of the crime.

        The gunman, who walked into the Brownsboro Road branch of National City Bank, shot the teller, jumped over the counter and took an undetermined amount of money, remained at large late Tuesday.

        A stolen white Pontiac Sunbird convertible that police said was used as the getaway car was recovered a short time later behind a shopping center just a few blocks from the bank, according to Stacey Redmon, a Jefferson County police spokeswoman. Authorities said the car was stolen about 7 a.m. Tuesday at a Louisville-area gas station.

        Mary D. Kaelin-Brandenburg, 52, of Jeffersonville, Ind., was pronounced dead at 12:03 p.m. at University Hospital, said deputy coroner Sam Weakley. The shoot ing happened about 11:30 a.m.

        Authorities described the gunman as a black male with a stocky build, age 25 to 35 and wearing a dark-colored heavy winter coat, with dark pants, white athletic shoes, a black knit stocking cap and a blue bandanna.

        The driver of the getaway car was described as a light-skinned black male, wearing a light pullover sweat shirt.

        FBI Special Agent Jeffrey Lampinski said the suspect left the bank, walked into a nearby Dairy Mart, continued through the store and out the back door into the Pontiac. Agent Lampinski sought the assistance of the public, urging potential witnesses to contact the FBI or Jefferson County police if they saw anything out of the ordinary Tuesday morning in the area near the crime scene. A $45,000 reward was offered by the bank, PNC Bank, the FBI and Crime Stoppers.

        Agent Lampinski also said there may be a third suspect, based on an account from a wit ness. Authorities said Louisville police have been investigating armed robberies in the area.

        Bank employees gathered outside the bank's entrance to console each other and mourn the loss of their colleague Tuesday afternoon. Ms. Kaelin-Brandenburg was described as a longtime employee of the bank.

        “We have some very upset employees,” said Terri Wilson, spokeswoman for National City Bank.

        Mr. Wilson said the bank, which is just east of the city limits, will be closed all week.

        Les London, executive vice president for retail banking for National City, said no guard had been posted at the bank. Bank officials determine where to post guards based on crime information from local police, he said.

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