Vanessa Marquez, the American actress best known for her roles in the series ER and the film Stand and Deliver, was fatally shot by police during an incident at her home in South Pasadena, California on Thursday.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said the 49-year-old had pointed a gun, later identified as a "BB-type" [airgun] replica firearm, at officers when the fatal shooting took place.
A statement from the Sherriff's Department said officers had been called to Marquez's home by her landlord and "noticed the female was having seizures". Officers were joined by a Los Angeles County mental health clinician.
"While speaking to her, officers became aware she was possibly suffering from mental health issues, became uncooperative, and appeared to be unable to care for herself," the statement continued.
"They continued to speak to her for over an hour and a half in an attempt to offer her medical care. She then armed herself with a handgun and pointed it at the officers, at which time an officer-involved shooting occurred."
Marquez was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Officers said they recovered a replica firearm at the scene that looked like a semi-automatic weapon. An investigation has opened into the shooting.
Marquez played Nurse Wendy Goldman on ER from 1994 to 1997. Last year she alleged that she had been blacklisted after she complained about alleged harassment on the set of ER. Marquez alleged that ER star George Clooney had been involved in blacklisting her - an allegation denied by the actor.
"If she was told I was involved in any decision about her career, then she was lied to," Clooney said in a statement. "The fact that I couldn't affect her career is only surpassed by the fact that I wouldn't."
