King of Pop Michael Jackson died Thursday after being rushed to the hospital from his home in Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Times said that paramedics answered a call at Jackson's home in the Holmby Hills area of L.A. around 12:26 p.m. According to the chief paramedic, Jackson was not breathing at the time of their arrival. TMZ confirmed that Jackson was in cardiac arrest as he was rushed to the UCLA Medical Center by ambulance. Paramedics administered CPR to Jackson in the ambulance.
An unidentified Jackson family member confirmed to the press that Michael was in "really bad shape," while Joe Jackson, Michael's father, also stated that "he is not doing well."
TMZ reported that Jackson never regained a pulse after the arrival of paramedics.
Jackson was to perform a series of 50 concerts in London, beginning on July 13. Called "This Is It," the show is scheduled to play until February 2010, with Jackson noting that these are the last shows that he'll play in London.
Jackson had been rehearsing for the tour in the Los Angeles area for the past two months.
There had been concerns over Jackson's health in the past few years, though promoters for his concert series reported that the King of Pop had passed a 4-1/2 hour physical examination.
Jackson was 50 years old.
