Five hours into the attack on her, a Pope County woman grabbed her assailant's rifle and shot him to death, authorities said Friday.

They were referring to the slaying Wednesday of Anthony Ray Tullis, 25, of Gilchrist Township in Pope County, which appears to be a case of domestic violence.

A woman with whom Tullis lived told sheriff's deputies that she had shot Tullis, according to a news release Friday afternoon from the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Pope County Sheriff's Office, which are jointly investigating circumstances of Tullis' death.

According to authorities, just before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, deputies responded to a 911 call of a shooting at a home. They found the distraught woman outside and Tullis dead inside the home.

"According to the preliminary investigation, Tullis forced (the woman) into a bedroom in the home and repeatedly assaulted her over five hours, during which time he allegedly made several threats to her life," a news release says.

The woman told investigators that "at one point, she gained control of his rifle and shot Tullis."

The woman isn't in custody. The Pope County Attorney's Office will decide whether the shooting was criminal or self-defense based on the investigation.

The Midwest Medical Examiner's Office in Anoka County confirmed that Tullis died as the result of a gunshot wound. Results of toxicology tests will not be available for several weeks, authorities said.

Tullis has a history of alcohol and marijuana-related offenses in Pope, Stearns and Kandiyohi counties.

The nature of his relationship with the woman was not disclosed, save for them sharing the same address. They have different last names.

Joy Powell • 612-673-7750