Man who recorded Los Angeles beating of Rodney King dies of COVID-19 complications

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.