Rodney King is pronounced dead at the age of 47

Rodney King died on Sunday after being found by his fiancée at the bottom of his swimming pool at his home in Rialto, California. He was 47.

King is known for the videotape of Los Angeles police brutally beating the man in 1991. The video eventually lead to the Los Angeles riots of 1992; three of the four police officers that were responsible were acquitted by an all-white-jury.

King was pronounced dead at 6:11am at Arrowhead Regional Hospital, shortly after his fiancée had called 911 at 5:25am.

Police Lt. Dean Hardin states that there were no signs of foul play, however the San Bernardino County coroner will perform an autopsy within the next two days.

During the Los Angeles riots, fifty-five people were killed and an estimated total of $1 billion in damage was caused due to looting, vandalism and arson.

King is also known for the line “Can we all get along?” It is said that that is what he was hoping to be remembered for.

King also released a memoir in 2008 entitled “The Riot Within,” which outlined his thoughts on the beating and his difficult childhood. 

Flickr photo by: urbancn