A McIntosh County man was shot by a sheriff’s deputy after the man allegedly pulled out a gun during a search of his home.

According to Chief Deputy William Jennings of the McIntosh Office of the Sheriff, a search warrant was being executed at the home of Myron Mells of 10243 U.S. Highway 17. 

Officers from the sheriff’s office and the Darien Police Department arrived around 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jennings said. Once the officers entered to search the residence, Mells allegedly pulled a gun and was shot once by a deputy. 

Once the deputies and police secured the area, they administered first aid to Mells. McIntosh EMS was called in and Mells later was flown by LifeStar to Savannah’s Memorial Health University Medical Center. 

Jennings said they seized what is suspected to be cocaine as well as a gun and other evidence he would not discuss. 

The GBI was called to investigate the shooting. The deputy has been placed on administrative leave pending the findings of the GBI.