The Hawkins County Sheriff's Office seeks the public's help in its investigation of the aggravated burglary and armed robbery of an elderly woman near Bulls Gap.

Deputies responded Friday to a complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 1500 block of Tennessee Rt. 66 South, at Bulls Gap, Sheriff Ronnie Lawson said in a news release.

Hawkins County Deputy Kenny Lunsford Jr. was on the phone with the 86-year-old woman who lives at the address.

She "advised Deputy Lunsford she had heard a noise, at which time she laid the phone down and Deputy Lunsford heard her screaming and talking to someone," Lawson said.

When deputies arrived at the house, they discovered the victim's front door had been forced open. A large metal wrench was found on a bathroom floor.

The woman told deputies that a white female had broken out a window of her front door, reached in and unlocked the door and entered her house.

The intruder was described as between 5-feet-8 and 5-feet-10 inches tall and having a "skinny" build, with long dark hair and a round face.

"The unknown female met [the victim] at her bedroom door and told her she wasn't going to hurt her and wanted her money, and began to pull her through the hallway toward the kitchen," Lawson said.

The homeowner pulled a pistol and tried to shoot the female attacker, Lawson said.

"When the attacker tried to take the pistol from her, the weapon discharged, missing the attacker, who took the pistol and [the victim's] purse," Lawson said. The attacker then fled the house, leaving in a red car.

The victim's purse contained a bank card, checkbook and rings.

The victim suffered a minor injury to her right hand but did not want medical attention, the report said.

Anyone with an information about the case can contact the Hawkins County Sheriff's Office at (423) 272-4848.