Michael Jackson Dead at 50 After Cardiac Arrest

The “King of Pop,” Michael Jackson, was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. PT on Friday after having suffered cardiac arrest, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office. He was 50 years old.

An autopsy is scheduled Friday, he said. Results are expected Friday afternoon, according to Lt. Fred Corral of the Los Angeles coroner’s office, who also said Jackson was unresponsive when he arrived at the hospital.

Law enforcement officials stressed that there is no evidence of criminal wrongdoing, but they would conduct interviews with family members and friends, opening an investigation into Jackson’s death. At the medical center, every entrance to the emergency room was blocked by security guards; even staff members were not permitted to enter the area where Jackson was. People gathered in the waiting area of the medical center, some of the crying, and vigils have been conducted throughout the day in honor of Michael Jackson. Outside of Jackson’s home, police arrived on motorcycles and the road in front of the home was closed in an attempt to hold traffic; but that did not stop several people from gathering outside of the home.

Michael’s former wife, Lisa Marie Presley, said that she was “shocked and saddened” [by the news of Jackson's death] “My heart goes out to his children and his family.”

Michael Jackson has had a greatly successful career that many people around the entire world have benefited from and idolized Jackson for. Known as the “King of Pop,” Jackson has many No. 1 hits and “Thriller” is the best-selling album of all time. But while he has undoubtedly had more success in his life than imaginable, he also had legal troubles later in his life.

Prosecutors charged Michael Jackson with four counts of lewd conduct with a child younger than 14; one count of attempted lewd conduct; four counts of administering alcohol to facilitate child molestation; and one count of conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment or extortion. He was acquitted of these charges after a well-publicized trial in Santa Maria, California, in March 2006.

Michael Jackson will surely be missed all around the world.