How did rodney king die

Rodney King was found dead on the morning of Sunday June 17, 2012. Authorities were called when he was discovered on the bottom of his swimming pool. King was pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital where efforts to revive him failed.

An autopsy was conducted June 18, 2012. A cause-of-death confirmation is awaiting the results of toxicology tests. The results may not be known for six to eight weeks. They are expected to determine if there were any drugs or alcohol in King’s system at the time of his death. King had a history of drug and alcohol abuse.

Police report there were no signs of trauma to King’s body or any blood around the pool; foul play is not suspected. A neighbor claims to have heard a man crying in King’s backyard followed by a splash. Another neighbor reported hearing no such commotion.

King came to notoriety in 1991 when a videotape was released showing multiple police officers beating him after a car chase. The officers involved were acquitted of wrongdoing in the matter despite public opinion and what was thought to be incriminating videotape evidence. Outrage over the acquittals erupted into the 1992 L.A. riots.