STERLING, Va. (AP) — The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office says a man was shot during a confrontation with deputies in Sterling.

Deputies were called to the 1100 block of Albemarle Road about 4 p.m. Tuesday for a report of a man with a large sword threatening relatives outside a home.

Liz Mills, chief information officer for the county, said that as deputies arrived, the man got what appeared to be a firearm.

Mills says the deputies ordered the man to drop the weapon, but he refused. Authorities say the man pointed the weapon at deputies, who shot him.

The man was flown to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.