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  • Michael Jackson during a press conference in London on March 5, 2009
  • Michael Jackson announces plans for a series of concerts at London’s O2 Arena (March 5, 2009)
  • Michael Jackson is escorted from the Drury Lane theatre after attending a performance of Oliver on March 6, 2009 in London, England
  • Michael Jackson attends a press conference in London on March 5, 2009

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  • WireImage

    Michael Jackson during a press conference in London on March 5, 2009
  • Getty Images

    Michael Jackson announces plans for a series of concerts at London’s O2 Arena (March 5, 2009)
  • FilmMagic / Getty Images

    Michael Jackson is escorted from the Drury Lane theatre after attending a performance of Oliver on March 6, 2009 in London, England
  • Getty Images

    Michael Jackson attends a press conference in London on March 5, 2009
 
 

FIRST PUBLISHED: June 25, 2009 4:57 PM EDT
LAST UPDATED: June 25, 2009 8:21 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Michael Jackson has died at age 50 after a brief hospitalization on Thursday, the Los Angeles Coroner’s office has confirmed.

The Los Angeles Times and TMZ were the first to report the news of the star’s passing.

According to the Coroner’s office, Michael was already in full cardiac arrest when the paramedics arrived at his Holmby Hills home on Thursday afternoon. An autopsy will be conducted on Friday morning, with initial results coming later that day and a toxicology report in several weeks.

TMZ first reported on Thursday afternoon that the star was picked up at around 12:21 PM PST by paramedics, who then administered CPR in the ambulance. The site further reported that Michael had suffered from cardiac arrest.

The Los Angeles Times reported that according to Capt. Steve Ruda with the Los Angeles Fire Department, Jackson was not breathing when they arrived. Ruda corroborated the report that CPR was administered.

Access Hollywood has confirmed that the LA City Fire Department received a 911 call to Michael’s Holmby Hills neighborhood on Thursday afternoon.

According to several outlets, including the LA Times, TMZ and KABC, Michael had been taken to UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, Calif., where he arrived in what the LA Times called a “deep coma.”

The star had been slated to headline 50 sold-out shows at London’s O2 Arena beginning in July, billed “This Is It” – his final London performances.

In March, AEG president and CEO Tim Leiweke, whose company is behind the shows, told Billboard that Michael was “very healthy.”

“Despite everything you read about him, he was fine,” Leiweke said. “The man took a physical for us to go do these concerts.”

Access has learned that Michael had been rehearsing at Staples Center in LA over the last several days in preparation for his July 13 show.

Copyright 2009 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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