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SALTVILLE, Va. — A man has been charged with assaulting a female and firing a gun inside a residence.

James Hunter Murphy, 43, of Saltville, was charged with domestic assault, reckless handling of a firearm and felony discharge of a firearm within an occupied dwelling, according to a news release.

The Smyth County Communications Center received a 911 call on Tuesday night from a woman stating she had been assaulted. The victim told police the man who assaulted her was armed and making threats toward others.

Deputies with the Smyth County Sheriff's Office responded to the residence on Pickle Hollow Road. A preliminary investigation showed Murphy had assault a woman and at some point fired a handgun inside the residence, the release stated.

When law enforcement arrived on scene, Murphy had run into a wooded area near the home and authorities believed he was armed. Police began searching for him.

After a two and a half hour search, Murphy surrendered and was arrested without incident. He was unarmed, police said.

Murphy is being held without bond in the Abingdon Regional Jail pending arraignments in Smyth County Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court and the Smyth County General District Court.

SCSO was assisted by the Virginia State Police, VSP Med Flight, Saltville Police Department and the Chilhowie Police Department.