ALTUS -- A man is dead and his wife hospitalized after a domestic disturbance escalated into a shooting that involved three Altus police officers Wednesday night.

According to Altus Police Chief Mike Patterson, police received a call at 10:20 p.m. from Gabrielle Bittinger requesting that officers meet her at 207 Williams Drive and stand by while she retrieved some items from the house. Patterson said Bittinger told police that her husband owned a gun. Bittinger pulled into the driveway at first, but then backed up and parked on the street and told officers something wasn't right at the house. It was at that point that the woman's husband -- who was identified by a relative as Brett Bittinger -- came around the corner of the house and approached his wife.

Patterson said the conversation quickly escalated into an argument, at which time the husband pulled out a gun and began shooting his wife at close range. At that point police returned fire.

The man and his wife were both taken to Jackson County Memorial Hospital where the man was pronounced dead. Mrs. Bittinger was admitted with multiple gunshot wounds. Patterson said the injuries are not life-threatening.

About eight minutes elapsed from the time officers arrived on the scene until the officers placed a call for an ambulance at 10:41 p.m. According to the police incident log, 20 police officers were on the scene.

Brett Bittinger's uncle by marriage, Carl O'Dell, said that Mr. Bittinger is a Camden, Ohio, native who was in the military. He said that Mr. Bittinger had been married to Gabrielle Bittinger for about two years. Mr. Bittinger is survived by two sons from a previous marriage.

Brett Bittinger had started a small blaze by the time police arrived. According to the Altus Fire Department, an accelerant was used but very little damage was done to the home. Patterson said Animal Control officers were called because a large and potentially vicious dog was known to be in the house. He said that one dog was reportedly found dead and another dog was retrieved alive from the home.

Patterson said three officers have been placed on administrative leave, a routine move after an officer-involved shooting. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is in charge of the case. Brown said the OSBI does not release the names of officers involved in shootings.

Patterson said it is possible that the gunman intended to commit a murder-suicide, knowing that police would return fire.

"There's a strong possibility this was a suicide by cop," Patterson said. "He had to know if he shot her in front of cops, they had no choice but to respond."