More on the Death of Rodney King
Back in June, on the occasion of Rodney King's death by drowning in his backyard pool, I wrote the following in a post here on Ricochet:
Rodney King was not a hardened criminal, but rather a man who lacked sufficient restraint on his appetites, the result of which was a string of arrests for relatively minor offenses like drunk driving and domestic violence. And though the Los Angeles County coroner has yet to disclose the results of King’s autopsy, it will surprise few when it is revealed – as it surely will be – that he was intoxicated on one or more substances when he drowned in his backyard pool. As is the case with most people, he lived and apparently died with the consequences of his own decisions.
I erred as to the county where King died, but I was otherwise correct. The Los Angeles Times reports: "The San Bernardino County coroner’s office said King died as a result of an accidental drowning after he fell into his pool. Toxicology tests found alcohol, marijuana, PCP and cocaine in his system when he died."
I take no joy or even satisfaction in seeing my prediction born out. I merely point out the circumstances of King's death as a reminder that he chose his path, one that led to an end that was foreseeable to nearly everyone, perhaps even to King himself.
When California Highway Patrol officers attempted to stop King for speeding that night in 1991, he made the choice to step on the gas rather than the brake. That decision was for years the most consequential of his life. In the end, it was the second-most.
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Comments:
May '12
Re: More on the Death of Rodney King
I hear that the famous Rodney King video that was shown a dozen times on every news show is actually the final 10% of the full amateur video. Can anyone in Ricoland link to the whole video?
Apr '11
Re: More on the Death of Rodney King
I follow Chris Jaffe's anniversaries and "day-versaries" at the Hardball Times. One entry from his Aug. 22 column reads
It seems generally true to me that when children drown in a swimming pool, it is due to a lack of adult supervision. When adults drown, it is due to an excess of adult beverages.
Aug '10
Re: More on the Death of Rodney King
I would rather mourn the loss of 64 people during the riots ginned up by the media and professional grievance mongers.
Jun '11
Re: More on the Death of Rodney King
Bingo.
People are who they are.
"Human Nature, being what is is...."
Jun '12
Re: More on the Death of Rodney King
I always felt a sense of kinship with Rodney. A couple of years prior to the King incident, this then 28 year old white male (me) managed to inadvertently drive through an LAPD stakeout in a suspicious manner, and was followed out onto Sunland Bl in Sun Valley, a couple miles from where Rodney was pulled over. Some eight or so undercover narcotics officers flashed my car, rushed the vehicle, and dragged me out into the middle of the street with a knee in my back. After a half-hearted apology/non-apology, I was sore for about a week. Incidentally, my cousin worked with Sergeant Koons in south L.A. and swears he never met a more capable, fair minded law officer. So yeah, from Rodney, most of the cops involved, including Koons, to the thousands of business owners who were looted across the city, it was a complete and utter cluster**** of an incident.