An Anniston woman was in custody at the Calhoun County Jail Friday under suspicion of shooting her husband in the knee.

Calhoun County deputies have charged Rita Murphy, 54, with felony first-degree domestic violence. Sheriff Larry Amerson said Murphy shot her husband, 46-year old Donald Murphy, when he tried to enter the couple’s Old Choccolocco Road home around 3:20 a.m. Friday.

Amerson said Donald Murphy and a friend arrived at the house on Old Choccolocco Road and were trying to get in, when Rita Murphy used a rifle to shoot at her husband through the front door.

The bullet struck Donald Murphy just below his knee, destroying the bone, Amerson said.

A helicopter airlifted the victim to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, where he is currently being treated for his injuries.

Deputies arrested Rita Murphy, who told them she didn’t mean for the bullet to hit her husband.

But Amerson said that preliminary investigations show that the woman didn’t come out of the house or try to check on her husband after shooting him.

“He would’ve died if the other man didn’t render aid,” Amerson said, referring to the friend who came home with Donald Murphy.

Rita Murphy was in jail Friday on a $30,000 bond. Her court date is set for April 21.

Contact Star Staff Writer Cameron Steele at 256-235-3562.