Celebrity news, Dearly Departed

R.I.P. Rodney King, Dead at 47

The ReadyWriter

Gossip website TMZ.com is reporting Rodney King has died at age 47.

According to TMZ sources, King’s fiancée found him dead at the bottom of a pool Sunday morning. He was pronounced dead at 6:11 AM.

Law enforcement sources say Rialto PD will open a drowning investigation, but so far there are no signs of foul play.

The acquittal of four LAPD officers accused in the videotaped beating of King sparked the 1992 Los Angeles riots that left 53 dead and thousands more injured. 4,000 National Guardsmen were called out to help put an end to 6 days of violence and looting.

King, who had past convictions for assault, battery and robbery, made an impassioned plea to rioters, included his now famous quote: “Can’t we all just get along?”

In 2009 King was awarded $3.8 in a settlement for violating his civil rights. He became engaged to one of the jurors who awarded him the money. In 2007 King was shot multiple times in the face, arms, back and torso during a domestic dispute.

King recently released and wrote a book entitled “The Riot Within” and discussed the anniversary of the “LA Riots” when he appeared on PoliticsNation just a month ago.

Published by The ReadyWriter

Writer, Published Author, CEO of ReadyWriter Production Company and Blog Talk Radio Host.

70 thoughts on “R.I.P. Rodney King, Dead at 47”

  2. damn shame…he had it rough but being found at the bottom of a pool sounds suspect…then again, he look like he mighta been on drugs too.

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    1. then again, he look like he mighta been on drugs too
      ~~~~~~~~~~
      when sharpton was interviewing him, he did seem kinda OFF!

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    2. then again, he look like he mighta been on drugs too
      ~~~~~~~~~~
      when sharpton was interviewing him, he did seem kinda OFF!
      _________________________________________________________

      they saying he drowned but i’m sure they gon do an autopsy. he had to be high or under some kind of influence.

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    3. he had to be high or under some kind of influence.
      ~~~~~~
      Zactly!!!
      TODAY’S LESSON PEOPLE: Drinking booze and smoking marijuana and a swimming pool are a bad combination.

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    4. being found at the bottom of a pool sounds suspect
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      yeah the drowning sounds suspect, we’ll see comes out in the days to come.

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    5. then again, he look like he mighta been on drugs too
      ~~~~~~~~~~
      you could tell from his tv appearances that he had issues. his speech was kinda slow and smeared too possibly from the blows from that infamous beating in 1991. and if he was doing drugs on top of that it really didn’t help him much.

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    6. being found at the bottom of a pool sounds suspect
      ——–
      His fiance told frinds he had been drinking and smoking marijuana earlier that evening.

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    7. being found at the bottom of a pool sounds suspect
      ——–
      His fiance told frinds he had been drinking and smoking marijuana earlier that evening.
      ***********

      An autoposy will certainly reveal what happened to him. 😦

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  4. rodney went thru hell and gained national attention, just to die at the bottom of his pool??? the devil is a liar!!!!

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  6. Rodney King the man who made White folks believe POLICE BRUTALITY did in fact exist,for that I thank him.He was a troubled man who for whatever reasons could not seem to get his life together.His journey is over my condolences to his family.

    May Mr.King REST IN PEACE.

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  8. Death by drowning? Alone in the pool. Probably never fully recuperated mentally due to the beating he took. And probably never stopped drinking. An early death for someone whose name will forever be attached to police brutality and a later conviction of some of the officers in federal court for civil right violation. RIP

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  9. “King recently released and wrote a book entitled “The Riot Within” and discussed the anniversary of the “LA Riots” when he appeared on PoliticsNation just a month ago.”

    Now, I’m curious about his book, I plan on reading it.
    R.I.P. Rodney King

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  12. This is sad news, I always felt Rodney was dealt a raw deal in life and thought it was going to turn around for him, esp. after watching him on PoliticsNation.

    I want your family to know you mattered to me Rodney.

    R.I.P ..

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  14. Rest in peace, Dear Brother. Thank you for the the love you demonstrated in the face of ignorance, racism and hate.

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  15. damn this is so FUCKED UP!!!! he died the 20th anniversary year of the LA riots. Guess he just couldn’t shake dat ass beating.

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  18. 😦 This is so sad and unfortunate…tragedy behind tragedy…It doesn’t seem like this man has ever caught a break from life’s sorrow…my prayers go out to all in mourning…may he R.I.P. 😦

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  24. Never seemed as if this man had any peace while living, hopefully he has found peace in the after life. I remember seeing him on the Judge Mathis show a few years back….just plain sad on so many levels. My heart goes out to his family & friends. Remember people, life is NOT a dress rehearsal….

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  30. Just WOW (Though…) And It TOOK OVER 15 Years to get His Just-DUE ENDZ Though

    THAT BEATING (Video Evidence) is probably everywhere WORLDWIDE and I KNOW He could NEVER EVER FORGET Such a Horrific Event (In His LIFE Though…) Just ALL KINDS of TRAGIC from The Very Beginning

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  33. Rodney was a lucky negro who happened to have his ass whipping videotaped.

    After the riots,that fool was still being pulled over by the cops for DUI or public intoxication.they couldn’t do nothing to him but put the Dash Cam on his ass. His ass never learned.just sayin’

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  35. I was so shocked to hear the sad news 😦 that Rodney King had died. I thought he was on a road to doing so much better esp. after the new release of his book. This is sad on all levels.

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  36. Good, bad or indifferent….Rodney King made history and he paid a price in the process.

    May God rest his soul in peace!

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  37. Rodney lived a complicated life and if he was a drinker and druggie his issues only escalated his habit.

    R.I.P. Mr. King.

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  38. dayum! i’m wondering what happened? wth happened??? woke up sunday and heard dude was dead and he was on tv making rounds about his book. so weird.

    may he r.i.p.

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  40. Life really does suck and then you die!
    This boy went thru hell and to die at the bottom of his pool, yeah i’m wondering what happened?? can’t wait to hear this one.

    RIP Rodney.

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  41. “I am at peace,” King said at the end of PEOPLE’s April interview, explaining that he was no longer drinking “as much as I used to,” following a 2011 DUI arrest. “I finally found peace in my life.”

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    1. Rodney King told People in an April 2012 interniew:
      “I just smile because I survived it,” he said of his reaction to the footage. “When I see it, I can’t believe I survived it. I can remember what each one of those blows felt like. But I still can’t believe I survived it.”

      R.I.P. Rodney….Rest in paradise.

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