Authorities at the scene of the Dec. 7, 2011 shooting. (File)

WHITNEY (June 14, 2012)—Hill County grand jurors have determined that deputies were justified in shooting and killing a man who fired on officers during a standoff in December leaving two deputies wounded.

Jason McIntyre, 27, of Whitney, died in an exchange of gunfire with Hill County deputies on Dec. 7, 2011 at a house in the 400 block of Timberline near Juniper Cove Park on Lake Whitney.

McIntyre had a history of run-ins with deputies dating back to at least August 2009 when he was arrested for aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury.

His family had him admitted to a private mental health facility in Waco before the standoff, but he stayed there only a short time, authorities said.

As soon as McIntyre was released, he got a ride to the home near Whitney where the shooting happened after two deputies were sent to the residence northwest of Whitney in response to a report of a disturbance.

As the first deputy was approaching the home, McIntyre came out of the house and opened fire.

Deputy Larry Armstrong was struck in the shoulder.

McIntyre retreated back into the house, where he barricaded himself, Hill County Sheriff Jeffrey Lyon said.

The Hill County Special Operations Unit responded to the scene and attempted to contact him, who refused to respond, Lyon said.

Finally a second deputy, Deputy Kevin McCarty, went to the front door and asked McIntyre to come out.

McIntyre said he would, but that he would come out shooting, and as he stepped outside he fired several shots, one of which struck the McCarty in the leg.

Other deputies returned fire, shooting the man in the upper torso, Lyon said.

McIntyre had set a small fire in the house before he walked out, but Whitney firefighters quickly extinguished it.

The two injured deputies and the wounded gunman were all taken to a Whitney hospital, where McIntyre later died.

Doctors told Armstrong that the bullet that struck him could have hit his heart, his head or his spine if its trajectory had varied by just a few inches.

The Texas Rangers investigated the incident.

It is estimated that the prosecutor spent more than five hours reviewing the investigation's findings before presenting the case to the grand jury.