A Blount County man has been convicted in the 2021 shooting death of his wife.

A jury deliberated 15 minutes before finding Bryan Craig Fox, 54, guilty of murder and unlawful possession of a firearm on Wednesday.

Fox called 911 at 6:06 p.m. on Nov. 21, 2021, and told authorities his wife, 53-year-old Sharon Teal Askew, put her hands on him and he shot her, District Attorney Pamela Casey said in a news release.

Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the home to find Askew in front of the couch on the living room floor with a single gunshot wound to the head.

As other officers arrived at the residence, Fox repeatedly said, “She put her hands on me and I shot her.”

Fox’s trial began on Monday.

Casey said prosecutors presented evidence that Fox had dinner at a local restaurant that evening. Less than 10 minutes after arriving at their Moorer Lane home, Fox shot Askew ,who was sitting on the couch.

Fox testified in his own defense, Casey said, and told the jury he walked into the living room to try to talk to his wife when a physical altercation ensued.

According to Fox, he walked up to the couch and his wife attempted to stand. Fox then pushed Askew back onto the couch.

Fox said Askew then reached for the pistol he had holstered in a gun belt around his waist. He told the jury he believed his wife would shoot him if she gained control of his pistol, leaving him no choice but to shoot her to save his own life.

Prosecutors, however, presented photographs of the scene that showed nothing was disturbed or out of place in the area around Askew’s body, including a TV dinner tray and a Christmas tree.

Evidence was also presented that Fox was engaged in an extra-marital affair.

“I am always grateful for the citizens who respond to their jury summonses to participate in this process,’’ Casey said. “I appreciate their commitment to listen attentively to the evidence, follow the judge’s instructions, and to pursue justice for those who have been charged with an offence and those who have been victims of violent crimes as wells as their families.”

This case was investigated by sheriff’s Lt. Chad Long with the Blount County Sheriff’s Department.

A sentencing hearing has been set for Oct. 20, 2023.