Man who recorded Los Angeles beating of Rodney King dies of COVID-19 complications
After nearly a month in the hospital, George Holliday passed on Sunday due to complications from the novel virus
George Holliday, the man who recorded the grainy video of four Los Angeles police department officers beating Rodney King in 1991, has died due to complications from COVID-19. Holliday was reportedly hospitalized in L.A. for nearly a month before passing away Sunday.
According to the Associated Press, Holliday, 61, contracted pneumonia and was placed on a ventilator in recent days – he had not been vaccinated.
In early March of 1991, Holliday, a plumber by trade, awoke from sleep to the sound of a commotion at a nearby traffic stop. He then recorded the infamous incident, which showed officers kicking, punching and using a stun gun on King. The close-to 9-minute video would become key evidence in the trial against the officers nearly a year later.
The officers were ultimately acquitted in spring of 1992, which led to the Los Angeles riots.
King went on to be award $3.8 million in a suit against Los Angeles. He died at the age of 47, in 2012, after drowning in his backyard swimming pool.