NATCHEZ — A Natchez man was hospitalized late Friday after he was shot in the face during an argument in a local nightclub.

Natchez Police Detective Jerry Ford said police responded to the scene of the shooting at Ronda’s Grocery at 61 Minor St. at 11:30 p.m. Friday.

Ford said the victim and the alleged shooter, Clarence P. Matthews, 67, 1-C Bud Scott Lane, had been sitting at a table in the nightclub earlier in the evening and drinking.

“Witnesses and the defendant stated that he was at the nightclub on Minor Street with his girlfriend, and while he was in the club the victim allegedly started to disrespect him and his girlfriend, making some type of gestures toward her, and the suspect took it offensively,” Ford said. “He retrieved a .32 (caliber) revolver and came back and fired one shot, striking the victim in the face in his left cheek bone.”

The victim, a 40-year-old man, was airlifted to an Alexandria-area hospital for treatment, Ford said.

Matthews was charged with aggravated assault.

He was detained Saturday in the Natchez City Jail without bond.