I can't believe this hasn't been posted here yet:

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20287781,00.html

Michael Jackson Dies after Apparent Cardiac Arrest



Michael Jackson, the onetime child star turned King of Pop, died in Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon after suffering an apparent cardiac arrest in his home. He was 50 years old.

Jackson was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center not far from his rental mansion in the Holmby Hills. The cause of death wasn't known. An autopsy is set for Friday.

The entertainer was stricken Thursday afternoon and a 911 call was placed. "His personal physician, who was with him at the time, attempted to resuscitate Jackson, as did paramedics who transferred him," according to a statement from the hospital.

Frantic, Futile Efforts

With an oxygen mask over his face, Jackson was carted to a red ambulance and rushed to the hospital, arriving at 1:14 p.m. "A team of doctors including emergency physicians and cardiologists attempted to resuscitate for a period of more than one hour but were unsuccessful," the statement says.

Jackson had been busy rehearsing for a high-stakes comeback tour, set to start within weeks in England, with dozens of dates scheduled and tickets selling out quickly. To prepare for the rigors of performing, he was training with Lou Ferrigno, the star of the TV show The Incredible Hulk.

Questions About His Tour

There were some doubts among Jackson's circle about his ability to perform his upcoming concert schedule. "Michael is physically just not ready [for the concerts]," a source close to Jackson said last month. "He weighs even less than he did during his trial, which was almost nothing. He's 50 years old."

Famly members, including his mother Catherine, brothers Randy and Jermaine, and sisters Janet and LaToya, arrived separately at the hospital for a tense and tearful vigil. "First, it was chaotic [in the ER] and then absolute silence," says family lawyer Brian Oxman. "Everyone is just heartbroken. I'm heartbroken."

During the ordeal, Jackson's three children were left with a nanny, and plans were made for them to stay with Jackson's mother for the time being. "Mrs. Jackson loves the kids and she will care for them now," says Oxman.

By the evening, the family left the hospital in five-vehicle caravan for his mother's house in Encino. A teary-eyed LaToya was behind the wheel of a black Mercedes; she was followed by a grim-faced Janet in a droopy suede cowboy hat driving a tan Maserati. Jackson's father, Joseph, was en route to Los Angeles from his home in Las Vegas. Jackson's body was flown by helicopter to the Los Angeles County Cornoner's Office, where the autopsy will be performed.

What sad news. The world has truly lost a legend.

I agree this is just so shocking

I absolutely idolized him when I was a little kid and he was the first singer I remember listening to

Loved his music and his great videos

Rest In Peace Michael

You Will Be Missed

Rigginsfan07, I really like your avi.

I just can't believe he's gone. What a crazy week though - Ed McMahon, Farah Fawcett and now Michael Jackson. It's unbelievable.

that's so sad

R.I.P. Michael Jackson

MTV is actually airing a whole bunch of Michael Jackson's videos right now.

I have a feeling we'll be hearing lots of his songs in the next few weeks

According to CNN, Michael's doctor is supposed to be giving a live conference on t.v. about what happened to him:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/2...kson/index.html

911 call from Jackson home: He's not breathing

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- The person at Michael Jackson's home who called 911 Thursday told the operator the singer wasn't breathing and wasn't conscious, according to a recording of the phone call released Friday.

"I need an ambulance," the person told the 911 operator.

Police spoke with Jackson's doctor on Thursday but have been unable to reach him Friday for further questioning, the Los Angeles Police Department said.

A car the doctor was using was towed from Jackson's home Thursday and impounded, authorities said.

The car may contain "medications pertinent to the investigation" into Jackson's death, said detective Agustin Villanueva of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Officials said they were confident the doctor will cooperate with the investigation.

Police did not release the doctor's name. Video Listen to the 911 call »

Public records show the car is registered to a Texas woman who is an associate of a cardiologist. The cardiologist is licensed in California and Texas and also has an office in Las Vegas, Nevada.

CNN's calls to the doctor's office were not immediately returned.

Authorities said Friday the cause of Michael Jackson's death will not be determined officially for weeks.

The superstar's sudden death Thursday at age 50 left a family devastated, an industry stunned and legions of fans lost. It also left a glaring question: What happened?

"The likelihood is very slim that we will have any results to release today because of the extensive level of the tests that we're going to be performing," said Ed Winter, assistant chief of the Los Angeles coroners office.

The results of toxicology tests are expected in six to eight weeks, he said, adding that the cause of death will be determined when all results come in.

Initial autopsy results could show whether Jackson had an underlying heart condition, medical experts say. Video Watch coroner's office discuss Jackson's death. »

There are questions over whether Jackson's death may have involved medication.

Brian Oxman, a former attorney for the Jackson family who was with the family in the hospital emergency room on Thursday, told CNN he had been concerned about medications the pop star was taking.

"I talked to this family about it, I warned them. I said that Michael is overmedicating and that I did not want to see this kind of a case develop," Oxman told CNN's "American Morning" on Friday.

He referred to Anna Nicole Smith, the former model and reality TV show star who died of an overdose in 2007.

"I said, 'If that's what's going to happen to Michael, it's all going to break our hearts.' And my worst fears are here." Video Watch CNN's Sanjay Gupta discuss Jackson's death »

Oxman emphasized that he does not know what killed Jackson, and was not making accusations against any individual.

CNN is seeking response from the family.

Jackson was in apparent cardiac arrest when paramedics rushed him Thursday from his home to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where a team of physicians tried to resuscitate him for more than an hour, according to Jackson's brother Jermaine. He said the music idol was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. Video Watch crowds gather at the hospital. »

The night before he had complained of not feeling well, brother Marlon Jackson said.

He told CNN on Thursday about his conversation with Jackson's manager Frank Dileo. On Wednesday night, Jackson said he was not feeling well, so his doctor went to see him. "Frank said, 'Marlon, from last night to this morning, I don't know what happened.' When they got to him this morning, he wasn't breathing."

The troubled icon had been preparing for a comeback tour, aimed at extending his legendary career and helping to pay off hundreds of millions of dollars in debt.

Michael Jackson began his professional work at age 5, singing with his brothers before shooting to superstardom as a solo artist. He had numerous No. 1 hits, the best known being "Thriller."

"Thriller" was the best-selling album of all time, at an estimated 50 million copies worldwide.

After dominating the popular music scene for years, Jackson became reclusive and mired in scandals that included child molestation charges. He was acquitted after a highly publicized trial in Santa Maria, California, in March 2006.

Nothing has been completely confirmed yet but it must've been a drug overdose or complications from the medication he was taking.