An incident turned tragic in East Texas, according to the Sheriff's Department after a deputy shot an armed man in a cemetery after the man raised a gun toward law enforcement.

What Happened at Malakoff Cemetery

A Henderson County deputy didn't have much time to react as a man reportedly raised a gun at the officer while in a cemetery, this is according to the sheriff's office. The investigation is still ongoing as law enforcement works to figure out how the incident escalated so quickly into a fatal shooting.

The incident took place on Sunday afternoon after the Henderson County Sheriff's Office received a report of a man who showed signs of being suicidal at the Malakoff Cemetery which is located on County Road 1400. According to law enforcement, when a deputy arrived on scene there was a man armed with a pistol.

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Authorities Describe the Confrontation

The deputy gave multiple requests for the man to drop the weapon, but the man never complied with the orders. The man then raised his gun toward the deputy who feared for his safety. That is when the deputy fired his weapon, which struck the man in the abdomen.

The deputy quickly told dispatch about the incident that occurred. Life-saving measures began immediately, and EMS was called to the scene. The man who was shot was transported to a Tyler hospital where he was listed as being in stable condition.

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Texas Rangers Leading Investigation

Texas Rangers will be investigating the incident alongside the Henderson County District Attorney's Office in accordance with standard protocol.

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