Merced County Sheriff’s deputies are searching for a Turlock man who pointed a gun at his wife and threatened to shoot her.

The suspect, William Harris, 25, is considered armed and dangerous, according to the sheriff’s department.

The incident began around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday near the UC Merced campus on North Lake Road in Merced. The victim, a 22-year-old woman, told deputies she had gone to pick up Harris at the university campus, where he works as a contracted construction worker. She was picking him up to have him sign divorce papers, said sheriff spokesman Deputy Delray Shelton.

The woman told the deputies that they got into an argument and that as she was attempting to leave Harris said to her, “I have been waiting for this day to happen” and then she heard him cock a gun, according to Shelton.

Harris allegedly had the gun pointed at the woman’s face and was preparing to shoot her as she was driving.  The woman said she tried to get out of the car, but that Harris grabbed her and was holding on to her.

The woman said she fought and was able to free herself from Harris’ grasp and escape the car. Harris then left in the car and the woman contacted law enforcement.

Deputies found the car in the immediate area. It had been wrecked and abandoned, Shelton said. A search of the area was conducted, with air support and tracking dogs brought in to assist the search. His whereabouts are currently unknown.

Harris was last seen wearing a gray T-shirt and camouflage pants. He is bald with “pork chop side burns.” He stands 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a medium build.

Anyone seeing Harris is asked to call 911.