Rodney King Dies at 47

Rodney King dead at 47

Rodney King died. According to TMZ, King’s fiancee found him dead at the bottom of a pool in Rialito, CA, this morning, June 17. He was 47.

A call was made at 5:25 AM PT and paramedics removed King from the pool and attempted CPR. King was pronounced dead at 6:11 AM. An investigation has been opened, but so far here are no signs of foul play.

Rodney King became famous in 1991 when he was the victim of LAPD violence. Four LAPD officers were tried in a state court for the beating; three were acquitted and the jury failed to reach a verdict for the fourth. The announcement of the acquittals sparked the 1992 Los Angeles riots. A later federal trial for civil rights violations ended with two of the officers found guilty and sent to prison and the other two officers acquitted.

King and Cynthia Kelly became engaged in 2009 and had no children together.