14 Images

Rodney King | 1965 - 2012

Rodney King, speaking to the media outside of his lawyer’s office in Beverly Hills on May 1, 1992, asks for an end to the killing, looting and destruction that his case against the LAPD caused.

(Larry Davis / Los Angeles Times)

This March 31, 1991 image made from video shot by George Holliday shows Los Angeles police officers beating a man, later identified as Rodney King. (George Holliday)

Rodney King shows the bruises he sustained at the hands of four Los Angeles police officers. (Kevork Djansezian / Associated Press)

Rodney King leaves the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga after turning himself in on a misdemeanor warrant for spousal battery, child abuse and vandalism. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Rodney King smiles after he was found not guilty of spousal battery. (Rick Meyer / Los Angeles Times)

Rodney King looks at a picture of himself from May 1, 1992, the third day of the Los Angeles riots, which hangs in the living room of his home in Rialto. At that news conference, King uttered the famous words, “Can we all get along?” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Rodney King in the Los Angeles Times studio.

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Rodney King at his home in Rialto. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Rodney King put up a tarp to keep neighbors from peering into his yard. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Rodney King spends time fishing near his home. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Rodney King wrote a book, “The Riot Within,” whose release was timed with the 20th anniversary of the L.A. riots. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Rodney King was found dead in the swimming pool of his home in Rialto. (Wally Skalij, Los Angeles Times)

Rodney King’s daughters Candice, left, and Lora console each other outside their father’s home in Rialto where he was found dead. (Wally Skalij, Los Angeles Times)

Investigators from the Rialto police department stand outside the home of Rodney King who was found dead in his swimming pool. (Wally Skalij, Los Angeles Times)