Deputy fatally shoots armed man outside Ladera Heights gym, authorities say

LADERA HEIGHTS, Calif. (KABC) -- A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy shot and killed a man armed with a weapon Tuesday evening outside a gym in Ladera Heights, authorities said.

The incident was preceded by a report of a customer creating a disturbance about 8:30 p.m. at a 24 Hour Fitness in the 5000 block of Slauson Avenue, according to a sheriff's news release. Marina Del Rey station deputies responded to the location and talked to the suspect, a man in his 40s, then escorted him out of the building.

"At 10:45 p.m. deputies received a call to return to the business," the statement said. "The same male had returned and was again causing a disturbance."

The deputies arrived to find the suspect "displaying erratic behavior," investigators said, adding that he "was uncooperative and became aggressive" toward them.

One of the deputies deployed a Taser in an attempt to subdue the man, who then began to walk away, according to the sheriff's department. He allegedly ignored their commands and removed a tethered weapon from his backpack.

When the suspect swung the object over his head, the deputy again used the Taser, to no avail, the news release said.

"The suspect continued to swing the weapon over his head and aggressively moved toward one of the deputies," the statement said.

One of the deputies opened fire, striking the man at least once in the upper torso. The suspect was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name was not immediately released.

The deputies were not injured.