South Lake Tahoe police kill armed man

Responding to a domestic violence call, South Lake Tahoe police on Sunday fatally shot a 30-year-old man in an Alameda Avenue home after he reportedly pointed a gun at them.

During a preliminary investigation, the gun wielded by the man turned out to be a replica .45-caliber BB gun, said South Lake Tahoe Police Sgt. Les Scott. Both officers involved, Sgt. Terry Daniels and Ofc. Brodie Seagrave, have been placed on paid administrative leave.

At 2:44 p.m., a call came in to police dispatch reporting a domestic disturbance in the 700 block of Alameda Avenue. According to the reporting party, a male and female were heard fighting, and items were breaking in the home.

The two officers arrived at 2:53 p.m., Scott said. They made contact at the door with Karen Cotz, 34, of South Lake Tahoe. Prior to being given entry, officers observed a male subject walking from the front portion of the residence to the rear. He reappeared shortly afterwards holding a gun, Scott said.

"The officers drew their weapons and ordered the male subject to drop his gun. Instead, the male suspect raised the gun and pointed it at the officers," Scott said. "At that point, shots were fired by the officers."

The amount of shots fired is still under investigation, Scott said.

Neighbors who lived nearby but declined to give their names said they heard between one to six shots.

One neighbor, who said she did not hear the gunshots but had heard the couple fighting on several occasions.

The incident is under investigation by the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department.

South Lake police asking that anyone with additional details about the case to call (530) 542-6100.