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Rodney King Found Dead In Southern California

LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) -- Rodney King, the black motorist whose 1991 videotaped beating by Los Angeles police officers led to some of the nation's most destructive race riots, has died at age 47.

Complete Coverage, Background and Video at CBS Los Angeles

Police say Rodney King's fiancee heard a splash and went outside to find him at the bottom of the pool.

He had been talking to her through an open door, and had been
poolside through the early morning on Sunday.

KCBS' Tim Ryan Reports:

Police in Rialto, Calif. responded and found him in the pool.

The 47-year-old King was declared dead at a hospital early Sunday.

Police Capt. Randy De Anda says there were no signs of paraphernalia or alcoholic beverages and no obvious signs of
trauma.

King's videotaped beating by Los Angeles police led to race riots after the officers accused of beating him were acquitted.

King became famous for his plea, "Can we all get along?" in a
news conference during the height of the riots.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed)

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