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MADISONVILLE -- A 22-year-old Madisonville man died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head after a domestic argument with his girlfriend at the Sonic Drive-In in Madisonville Saturday evening.

Madisonville Police were dispatched to a "subject with a gun" call at Sonic Drive-In on U.S. Highway 411 about 6:20 p.m. A second dispatch informed responders that one person had a gunshot wound to the hand or the head. Monroe County Ambulance Service paramedics were dispatched.

MPD officers arrived first on scene and found a white Honda parked at the entrance to Sonic but facing the road. The officer quickly reported finding a male with a small-caliber gunshot wound to the head. Paramedics requested a medical helicopter prior to their arrival, but dispatchers said Air-Evac was already on another call and LifeStar was in Sevierville but unable to fly due to the weather.

Paramedics quickly loaded the victim into an ambulance and sped toward UT Medical Center. A few minutes later, the ambulance crew notified Central Dispatch they would divert to Blount Memorial Hospital and that CPR was in progress.

The victim, identified by family members as Jeffery Christian "Chris" Chadwell, was pronounced dead after intensive efforts by emergency medical personnel and doctors to sustain the young man's life were unsuccessful.

According to sources, Chadwell, of Kefauver Hills, and his girlfriend, Mariah Wooldridge, were arguing when Chadwell is said to have pulled a gun. Some witnesses told the Daily News Express he started shooting at Wooldridge.

Authorities did not confirm that information.

When asked about that and whether the case was being investigated as a suicide or a homicide, MPD Chief Gregg Breeden had no comment.

Witnesses at a nearby business said they heard about five gunshots and thought it was fireworks.