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Athens man allegedly threatens wife with air rifle

 Joseph Zeng, 30, was arrested Wednesday for allegedly assaulting and threatening to kill his wife during a dispute at their home on Sena Drive, Athens-Clarke County police said.

An argument about the division of household chores turned physical, with the couple “punishing” each other, which Zeng claimed was a cultural tradition. Evidence seemed to indicate that the victim punished her husband gently, by giving him a “pat,” police said, and that “Zeng’s form of punishment was more serious than (his wife’s) pat.”

A roommate told police that Zeng was the primary aggressor and at one point he aimed an air rifle at his wife, allegedly warning he would kill her if she called police. The roommate took a cellphone photo of Zeng pointing the rife, according to police.

Zeng was charged under the state Family Violence Act with aggravated assault, terroristic threats or acts, obstruction of a 911 call and battery, police said.

Anyone who is in an abusive relationship can seek advice and services by calling Project Safe’s 24-hour hotline at (706) 543-3331, or by visiting http://www.project-safe.org.