Rodney King Found Dead
 

Rodney King, whose videotaped beating by police in 1991 sparked the L.A. riots, was found dead at his California home on Sunday. He was 47.

Police said King's fiancée discovered him at the bottom of the swimming pool at their Rialto, Calif., home, about 55 miles east of Los Angeles.

Police responded to a call at 5:25 a.m., pulled King out of the pool and attempted CPR, but could not revive him.

King's representative Suzanne Wickman confirmed to his death to KABC-TV. According to TMZ, King's fiancée, Cynthia Kelley, told friends King spent the bulk of Saturday drinking and "smoked marijuana at some point," before she went to went to bed at 2:00 a.m.

The cause of death is unknown, but police are investigating it as a drowning. Rialto Police Capt. Randy DeAnda told CNN there were no preliminary signs of foul play.

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

Wow, what a shocker.

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

Strange news for a fathers day...

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

Sad news anyone dies, especially as troubled as he was!

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

Won't insult the rest of the forum people with what I think about that story. Suffice it to say tonight I won't
be smoking a cigar in his honor.

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

Yes this thread will have a diverse range of opinions!

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

+1

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

Apparently I cannot give rep to Brad at this time....

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

Today I heard him called a civil rights Icon. No cigar tonight either.

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

???
Tell it to Reginald Denny who took yet a bigger beating.

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

Good or bad, he is part of American History.

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

Hmmm. Same here.

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

for clarification purposes, it was not the beating that sparked the riots. it was the acquittal/not guilty verdict (can't remember which) of the officers that incited the riots.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

:tpd:

The beating, lawsuit and subsequent riots made a big impact in the area and around the U.S.

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

A lot of changes, most for the good came out of the videotaped beating for
Law Enforcement!

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

How do you figure?

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

+1

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

:hm

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

:emo2004

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

I have him up there with MLK and Rosa Parks.....NOT!!!

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

R.I.P.
Yep, history.

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

I think just because somebody died doesn't mean you have to feel bad or have sympathy for them. While I'll never condone the beating he took, the guy was no saint. He willfully admitted that the high speed chase that preceded the assault was because he thought a positive drug/BAC test would violate his existing parole for robbery and send him to jail.

If people want to feel bad for him, that is totally their right, and I won't question it. If I don't really care one way or the other, that is my right and nobody should question it either.

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

Just for the record, I posted this not to garner sympathy or solicit prayers....but simply to report a news event that had some signifiicance to me and possibly others.

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

Well being a cop, it's brought accountability!1- Sergeants need to know what their officers are doing. 2- accountability for what you say and type on the computers(look up racist remarks the squad during the shift). 3- tactics used on suspects. Instead of swarming him, we'd release a K9 on him. 4- knowledge that you're probably on tape, so don't do stupid crap!

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

That being said he was a dumbass for doing what he did in that pursuit, but 71 blows with a baton and numerous cops standing doesnt make any sense to me!

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

Oh lookie, I was able to give reputation to TNT009.

Mods, can you please erase all of the opinions on this issue before I all too willingly give mine. Thanks you.

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

I remember it being tense around the barracks at Fort Gordon while the riots were going on in LA...like walking on eggshells.

Re: Rodney King Found Dead
 

:tpd:

Good posting (although in utopia I'd like to believe that law enforcement doesn't do stupid crap because it's the right thing to do, not because the cameras are rolling) .