Officer's death at Lake Tahoe called likely suicide

EMERALD BAY (Nevada Appeal News Service) - Authorities looking into the death of an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer whose body was found Monday at the parking lot of Inspiration Point at Emerald Bay believe the man shot himself in the head.

The name of the man has not been released pending notification of his family, said El Dorado County sheriff's Lt. Les Lovell.

The body was discovered around 8 a.m. on the southern side of the bay by a passer-by, Lovell said. A loaded revolver found nearby indicated one bullet had been fired, Lovell said.

"I'm very confident that this was a self-inflicted gunshot wound," Lovell said.

A check on the man's driver license revealed he was a California Highway Patrol officer. An autopsy was scheduled.

"People come to Lake Tahoe because it is a pleasant memory for them, and it's the last thing they want to see before committing suicide," Lovell said. "We've had lots of those in the past."