SANTEE–Sheriff’s deputies investigating a family disturbance at a residence fatally shot a man when he fired arrows from a bow at them, a Sheriff’s department spokesman said Friday.

Deputies responded to a house at 9900 block Woodglen Vista Drive in Santee to investigate a report of a family disturbance. The 1:57 p.m., call indicated the reporting party’s adult son had threatened to kill her, possibly had an undiagnosed mental condition and was possibly in possession of weapons including an axe and a knife.

Deputies contacted the mother when they arrived, then went to the front door of the home to contact her son. Through the open door, deputies called out to the man and asked him to come outside. He responded by peeking around a corner and firing an arrow from a bow at the deputies, striking the doorway nearby where they stood. Deputies retreated from the doorway and called for additional help. Deputies unsuccessfully attempted to call the man inside the house using the telephone and PA announcements. As additional deputies began to arrive, a team was put together to take the man into custody in the event he exited the house.

As they did this, the man appeared at an upstairs window and fired additional arrows at the deputies in front of the home. Deputies returned fire possibly striking the man who stopped firing from the window. Deputies attempted to contact the man. Eventually, they used sound and light devices, as well as electronic surveillance cameras and determined someone was lying on the floor in the upstairs bedroom. After receiving no response, deputies entered the residence and found a man in the upstairs bedroom. Medics pronounced the man deceased.

The Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting an autopsy and will determine the cause and manner of death. The man’s identity is being withheld pending his positive identification and family notification.