Mark Salling dead by apparent suicide

Mark Salling's cause of death was asphyxia by hanging and has been ruled a suicide, Los Angeles Coroner Assistant Chief Ed Winter confirms to PEOPLE.

LOS ANGELES -- (CWD) --

UPDATE 10:30 a.m. PT: The Blast obtained a statement from the Salling family:

"Mark was a gentle and loving person, a person of great creativity, who was doing his best to atone for some serious mistakes and errors of judgment. He is survived by his mother and father, and his brother. The Salling family appreciates the support they have been receiving and asks for their privacy to be respected."

Los Angeles Police responded to the 911 call at 8:50 a.m., near Big Tujunga Creek, according to The Blast.

UPDATE 10:16 a.m. PT: TMZ reports: "We're told he may have died after hanging himself. We've learned the address where Salling was found dead is a Little League field near a creek."

TMZ reported that "Glee" actor Mark Salling is dead of an apparent suicide, citing law enforcement sources.

TMZ was informed Salling's body was found near the Los Angeles River in Sunland, a neighborhood of Los Angeles where he lived.

Salling's manner of death was not immediately released.

Crime Watch Daily previously reported that Salling was charged with receiving and possessing child pornography on his computer. Last month, Salling pleaded guilty to Count 2 of an indictment against him in a Los Angeles courtroom.

Salling had been scheduled to appear for sentencing in Los Angeles on March 7, 2018.

Mark Salling and his attorneys signed the plea deal on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, according to the plea agreement filed Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017.

Among the conditional obligations of the plea agreement, Salling agrees to register as a sex offender and participate in counseling and/or treatment, according to court records.