Travis Dorman of the Knoxville News Sentinel

Authorities are searching for a man in Loudon County after his fiancée said he assaulted her and threatened her with a gun on Sunday morning.

Roy Bradford Jarrell, 33, is wanted on charges of aggravated domestic assault, said Loudon County Sheriff's Office Detective Jeff Russell.

Around 9:30 a.m., Jarrell, his fiancée, and one of his friends, who are all from Alabama, were driving near Hickory Creek and Buttermilk roads when an argument turned violent, Russell said. Jarrell hit his fiancée in the face, and when she retaliated, he pulled out a gun and said, "I want to kill you," Russell said.

The woman called 911. Jarrell stopped the car, and he and his friend exited the vehicle and ran away, according to Russell and an emergency dispatcher.

Jarrell's friend later "gave up" and waited on the side of the road for authorities to take him into custody, said Loudon County Sheriff Tim Guider. The man was not involved in the fight and was released after questioning, Russell said.

Guider said there may have been drugs involved — possibly methamphetamine.

Authorities are still searching for Jarrell, who is also wanted in Georgia on charges of violating probation and prior drug offenses, Russell said. Authorities used a helicopter and K-9 units to search for him on Sunday, and they called nearby residents to alert them of the situation.

Jarrell is 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighs 165 pounds and has hazel eyes, brown hair, tattoos and a goatee, Russell said. He may be armed, and he was last seen wearing a white tank top or T-shirt and camouflage pants.

More details as they develop online and in Monday's News Sentinel.