A woman is dead and the suspect in her death — her husband — is in a local hospital with a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a fatal domestic violence incident occurred outside Ruch early Wednesday, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

Constance Maria Murphy, 54, died of apparent gunshot wounds. Her exact cause of death will be determined by the Jackson County Coroner’s Office.

Her husband, David Allen Karnes, 54, is thought to have shot Murphy. Charges against Karnes are pending from the Jackson County District Attorney’s office.

Emergency dispatchers received a report of a gunshot victim at 12:21 a.m. Wednesday in the 3300 block of Little Applegate Road. Jackson County sheriff's deputies and Oregon State Police arrived at the location to find Karnes had barricaded himself inside the residence. A crisis negotiators team and SWAT were called in to assist with the tense situation.

“The suspect did not respond to verbal commands and refused to exit the residence,” the sheriff’s office press release stated.

“At 2:49 a.m, a single gunshot was heard as the SWAT Team entered the residence to find the suspect suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and the victim deceased from apparent gunshot wounds,” the release said.

Lifesaving measures were performed on Karnes. A Mercy Flights ambulance transported him to a local hospital, where he was listed in serious condition Wednesday evening.

Reach reporter Terri Harber at 541-776-4468 or tharber@rosebudmedia.com.