Authorities this morning said a man who fired a pistol into his assailant's stomach at an Northeast Knoxville fitness center does not face a criminal charge, but the wounded man might.

Knoxville Police Department spokesman Darrell DeBusk said no charges are expected against Kristopher Kitts, 29, who shot Erik Knight, also 29, once in the stomach with a .22-calber pistol.

Knight was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with the non-life threatening wound, DeBusk said. Knight was listed this morning in critical condition.

DeBusk said Knight attacked Kitts about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Rush Fitness Complex, 3001 Knoxville Center. Knight knocked Kitts down and was choking Kitts, DeBusk said, when Kitts reached into his pocket and pulled out a pistol.

DeBusk said Kitts has a carry permit for the weapon.

While DeBusk said prosecutors in the Knox County district attorney's office deemed no charges would be filed against Kitts, the spokesman said Knight may face a criminal offense because of the incident.

DeBusk declined to discuss what prompted the attack at the gym.