PONCHATOULA - Sheriff’s deputies in Tangipahoa Parish reported the arrest of a Ponchatoula woman accused of shooting her boyfriend in the stomach with an assault rifle late Tuesday afternoon.

32-year-old Winter Flowers was booked into the parish prison on one count of second degree aggravated battery. While deputies were searching the woman’s residence, they found her to be in possession of CDS IV and CDS II narcotics along with a firearm that had the serial number removed.

Investigators say Flowers and her boyfriend, 38-year-old Monroe Meyers, were involved in a verbal argument at their residence when the man allegedly threatened Flowers with an assault rifle. After a brief struggle, Flowers told deputies that Meyers put the gun down on the bed, and she picked it up.

When Flowers picked up the rifle, Meyers rushed toward the woman, trying to grab the weapon. Flowers told deputies that she became frightened in that moment, pulled the trigger and shot her boyfriend.

Deputies said Meyers remains in critical condition at this time after sustaining a gunshot wound to the abdomen.