A man angry over his water bill was killed by Russell County sheriff’s deputies after he fired a round at utility employees at his home before pointing the gun at officers, the sheriff said Wednesday.

The man, who was not publicly identified because his family had not yet been notified of his death, had an “altercation” with Russell County Water Authority employees at his home Wednesday, said Sheriff Heath Taylor.

“That’s what started the chain of events that ultimately led to a traffic stop of him and him presenting a weapon at the deputies on the traffic stop,” Taylor told a press conference.

After firing the round at the utility workers, the suspect went to the water works’ office, Taylor said.

Deputies responded to the office when the suspect got into his truck and fled.

That’s when deputies followed the suspect for five or six miles before pulling him over at U.S. Highway 431 and Ware Road.

The suspect then refused deputies’ orders to get out of the vehicle.

As one of the deputies reached for his stun gun, the suspect pointed a gun at the deputies, who fatally shot him, Taylor said.

The sheriff said he does not believe the man fired at the deputies.

The State Bureau of Investigation is probing the shooting, as is standard when law enforcement officers fatally shoot a suspect.

The deputies are on administrative leave with pay while the probe is ongoing, Taylor said.

“I want to give them the opportunity to just take a lot of what had just occurred in and be able to relax a little bit. It’s easy to say that you’re going to take somebody’s life when you’re working this job … it’s another thing when it actually happens,” he said.

“My guys don’t take it lightly. We don’t take it for granted. It’s the last thing we want to do, but unfortunately in the world we live in it has to be done from time to time,” he continued. “And unfortunately, today was one of those days.”