Michael Jackson Dies after Cardiac Arrest

Pop singer Michael Jackson was rushed to the hospital around 1p.m. Thursday after suffering a cardiac arrest, several media outlets are reporting.

E! Online reports that an eyewitness saw the 50-year-old Jackson taken to UCLA Medical Center in an ambulance from his Los Angeles home. E! also heard from Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson, who is currently in Las Vegas. He said, “People in Los Angeles called me and are with Michael and tell me he was taken to the hospital … his mother is on her way to the hospital now to check in on him.” The elder Jackson had no information on Michael’s condition.

TMZ also spoke with Joe Jackson, who told them Michael is “not doing well,” as well as to one of the Jackson brothers, who said he is in “really bad shape.”

Jackson collapsed in his home around noon, and staff found him unresponsive, E! reports. The LA City Fire department handled the call, but refused to identify Jackson by name to the media.

“When the team arrived, they saw that CPR was already in progress by someone at the home. The person not breathing was transported to UCLA Medical Center and remains there,” a fire department spokesperson said.

Michael Jackson was due to perform several shows in London next month, but was forced to cancel due to contract problems.

Update:

Some media sources are reporting that Jackson has died, but none of the more reputable sites are reporting this. I’m considering that possibility to be unconfirmed. The LA Times reports that he is in a coma.

Update: 3:38 p.m.

The LA Times and CNN both report that Michael Jackson has died. He arrived at the hospital in a deep coma and never recovered. Everyone is bummed. RIP the King of Pop.

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