A police officer from Columbia, South Carolina is under investigation for shooting a 70-year-old motorist after he mistook the man’s cane for a rifle during a routine traffic stop, AP reported.

Bobby Canipe of North Carolina was pulled over by 24-year-old Deputy Terrence Knox for an expired license tag. When Canipe got out of the pickup truck to reach into the bed for his walking stick, Knox fired several times hitting the man once, under the mistaken belief the walking stick was a long-barreled rifle.

York County sheriff spokesperson, Trent Farris, appeared to defend the officer's actions:

"The situation is very unfortunate," Faris said. "It does appear, at this time, that Deputy Knox's actions were an appropriate response to what he reasonably believed to be an imminent threat to his life.”

The incident is currently under investigation and Knox, a deputy for almost three years, has been placed on leave. No charges have been filed yet.

The victim was taken to a hospital in Charlotte North Carolina where he is expected to survive.