WANAMAKER, Ind. -- A mail carrier was shot in the face when he tried to intervene after a bank robbery just outside of Indianapolis Thursday afternoon, police said.

The robbery happened just after 3 p.m. at the Chase Bank branch near Southeastern Avenue and Franklin Road in Wanamaker, 6News' Rick Hightower reported.

Police said Brook Abebe, 42, walked into the busy bank with two guns and fired a warning shot in the air.

Postal carrier Robert Norman, 54, who was outside at the time, went around the building to try and locate a getaway car, investigators said. That's when Abebe came out of the bank and the two men struggled, with Norman grabbing Abebe's gun.

"(Norman) knows it's survival at that point," said Indianapolis police Lt. Jeff Duhamell. "He's trying to get the gun away from him."

Police said Abebe opened fire, hitting Norman in the eye, before fleeing.

"I was waiting on a customer, heard a pop, and I looked up and seen the mailman fall down and I called 911," said witness Mike Wetzel.

Abebe was apprehended about a mile from the bank after crashing a car into a ditch.

"He eventually got out (of the car) and fell onto the pavement, collapsed onto the pavement," said onlooker Bernie Gilmer. "Then I saw guns drawn and that sort of thing. They went over and searched him and handcuffed him."

Norman was taken to Methodist Hospital, where he was last listed in serious but stable condition.

Postal Service spokeswoman Kim Yates said Norman has 29 years' experience as a postal carrier.

Abebe was also transported to a hospital, but his condition was not released. He was preliminarily charged with attempted murder, robbery and possession of a handgun without a license.