Charges have been filed against a woman who was shot during a robbery at a Gardendale jewelry store.

Heather Denise Wright, 32, is charged with three counts of first-degree robbery and three counts of criminal use of defense spray. The holdup attempt happened Wednesday at Jeff Dennis Jewelers in Gardendale.

Wright, who lives in Nauvoo, remains hospitalized. Once released, she will be booked into the Jefferson County Jail. Her bonds total $90,000.

She has a lengthy criminal history.

The robbery happened just before 5 p.m. Wednesday at the store on Fieldstown Road.

Dennis said Wright walked in through the front door, wearing a face covering that looked like a COVID mask and a coat, and carrying a purse.

“I’m always a little bit alert,’’ he said. “Even though we’re past COVID, there’s still a lot of people wearing masks.”

The first thing she did was bend down and put a block in the door so it would stay open.

“I knew then what was happening,’’ Dennis said, “so I drew my weapon.”

Wright said, “Happy holidays. I don’t want to hurt y’all, but I am.”

She then immediately started spraying bear spray at the employees. Bear spray is a powerful aerosol spray meant to be used to ward off grizzlies and black bears.

“I stepped around the corner and fired and hit her pretty good,’’ Dennis said. “I hit her in the shoulder. It was a significant injury.”

“I didn’t have any choice once she started spraying the bear spray because I didn’t know what was going to come next,’’ he said.

“I was in fight or flight mode, and I was trying to get the store secured because I didn’t know if she had other people with her,’’ he said.

The woman screamed, “Stop, stop. I don’t want to die. Please stop.”

She dropped her purse and fled.

A massive search was immediately launched, with Jefferson County’s Star 1 helicopter providing air support, and drones and tracking dogs on the ground.

Agencies assisting Gardendale police included the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Birmingham police, Kimberly police and Fultondale police.

Gardendale police Chief Scott Banks said the woman was taken into custody within a couple of hours at a Birmingham apartment complex. She was then taken to UAB Hospital where she is undergoing treatment for her injuries.

It wasn’t immediately clear how police found the suspect in Birmingham.

Dennis on Thursday spoke with AL.com about the ordeal.

“I did what I had to do to protect my store and my employees,’’ said Jeff Dennis, owner of Jeff Dennis Jewelers in Gardendale. “I had no idea what she was capable of.”

The store reopened today after being closed Thursday for cleanup from the toxic bear spray.

Dennis said this is the first actual robbery at the store.

“Some poor choices by somebody made me do something I hoped I’d never have to do,’’ he said.

“I hate it,’’ Dennis said. “I lost a lot of sleep last night and I had the shakes for several hours.”

“It’s been an emotional thing,’’ he said. “I’m glad she didn’t die. I hope she can turn her life around.”

“I hope I’m never faced with that again,’’ he said, “but I have no doubt I would do the same thing again if I was faced with it a hundred times.”