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:-)5 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.
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Wow, what a shocker.
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Strange news for a fathers day...
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Sad news anyone dies, especially as troubled as he was!
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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.
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Yes this thread will have a diverse range of opinions!
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+1
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Apparently I cannot give rep to Brad at this time....
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Today I heard him called a civil rights Icon. No cigar tonight either.
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???
Tell it to Reginald Denny who took yet a bigger beating.
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Good or bad, he is part of American History.
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Hmmm. Same here.
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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.
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:-)

The beating, lawsuit and subsequent riots made a big impact in the area and around the U.S.
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A lot of changes, most for the good came out of the videotaped beating for
Law Enforcement!
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How do you figure?
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+1
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:-)
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:-)
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I have him up there with MLK and Rosa Parks.....NOT!!!
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