Michael Jackson passed away this afternoon following a cardiac arrest, the L.A. Times and TMZ report. Paramedics were called to Jackson's rented Bel Air home by a staff member at 12:21 PST, and they arrived five minutes later to find the star not breathing. CPR was administered in an ambulance, but when he arrived at UCLA Medical Center he was in a "deep coma" and was subsequently pronounced dead by doctors. Jackson was 50 and in the midst of preparing for a series of 50 sold-out shows in London's O2 Arena.

See also: Michael Jackson’s First Moonwalk

Michael Jackson dead [Updated] [LAT]
Michael Jackson Dies [TMZ]