Rodney King, who became somewhat of an iconic figure after his brutal beating by Los Angeles police in 1991 sparked the L.A. Riots was found dead earlier today (June 17, 2012).

King, was only 47 years old, recently reflected on the 20 years that have passed since that chaotic period and also spoke out about the Trayvon Martin case.

[READ: Rodney King Speaks on Trayvon Martin + Reflects on Life 20 Years After LA Riots ]

King went missing late last night and his fiance reportedly found him lying dead at the bottom of a swimming pool!

Details below:
King’s place in history will forever be marked by the traffic stop where King’s L.A. police beating was caught on camera. ?The acquittal of the four officers involved sparked what is now known as “The L.A. Riots.”

Rodney King recently wrote a book called The Riot Within: My Journey from Rebellion to Redemption, where he ironically wrote how he wanted to be remembered:

I don’t want to be remembered as the person who started the riots, I’d like to be remembered as the person who threw water on the whole thing… part of the solution. I want to be remembered as the person who tried to keep peace in this country… that I did my part.

VIDEO: Rodney King on Politics Nation with Al SharptonPolice in Rialto, California received a 911 call from Cynthia Kelly (King’s fiancee) at around 5:25 a.m. on Sunday, June 17, 2012.

The responding officers, who found King at the bottom of a swimming pool, removed him from the wather and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation until paramedics arrived.

He was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

According to?Capt. Randy DeAnda, there were no preliminary signs of foul play and no obvious injuries on King’s body so as of right now, police are conducting a drowning investigation and King’s body would be autopsied. (source)

King’s book The Riot Within: My Journey from Rebellion to Redemption is available now.

Being that Rodney King spoke of how he wanted to be remembered, how do you think his legacy will appear in the history books?

R.I.P. ~ Rodney King (April 2, 1965 ? June 17, 2012)

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