MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A man who pointed a rifle at law enforcement officials investigating an illegal marijuana grow on Wednesday morning was fatally shot by a sheriff's deputy.

The identity of the man who was shot was not immediately available, according to sheriff's Sgt. Brian Martin. The deputy's name also was not released.

Early Wednesday morning Lake County Sheriff's deputies were assisting agents from the Bureau of Land Management with an investigation into an illegal marijuana cultivation operation on public lands when the incident occurred, Martin reported.

Law enforcement personnel were investigating a marijuana garden containing several thousand marijuana plants in the area of Socrates Mine Road and Ford Flat Road between Middletown and Cobb. Martin said the garden was located in a remote area approximately half a mile off the road.

“They were on their way up there to eradicate,” he said.

Martin said it was just before 6:30 a.m. that deputies encountered the male subject, who was armed with a rifle.

Deputies ordered the man to put down the firearm, but instead Martin said the man raised his rifle toward the law enforcement officials.

A Lake County Sheriff’s Office employee discharged his firearm at the man, mortally wounding him, Martin said.

The man who was shot was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Martin.

Martin said the man – described as a middle-aged Hispanic male – had not yet been identified.

All of the sheriff's deputies were OK and unhurt in the incident, he added.

No other people were seen at the marijuana grow, but Martin noted that they're not normally staffed by one person.

“The sheriff's department has activated the reverse 911 system to notify the residents of the area of the situation,” said Martin, adding that they're urging area residents to be mindful of their surroundings in case there are other suspects.

The incident currently is being investigated by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake County District Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Land Management, Martin said.

The decision about whether or not to put the deputy on leave – a common practice in officer-involved shootings – hasn't yet been made, but Martin said it's “very likely” as the investigation takes place.

“Our employee saved some lives today,” said Martin.

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