Two close friends of Rodney King think his fiancée isn't telling the truth about what happened leading up to his death ... and they've voiced their suspicions to cops, TMZ has learned. 

As TMZ first reported, King's fiancee, Cynthia Kelley, says she was awakened by the sound of King banging on the window of their home just after 5:00 AM on Sunday ... and then heard him fall in the pool. 

But sources close to King tell TMZ they heard Kelley tell the story several times to friends ... only the story changed a little bit each time and it seemed to them that she was lying about something.

We're told two of Kelley's friends who spoke with her in the hours following King's death have gone to police and spoke to a detective. Our source says the detective took down their story and their information and said he would be in touch. 

Rialto PD say so far they have discovered no signs of foul play, but they are conducting a drowning investigation and will perform an autopsy at some point.

UPDATE 9:27 AM PT -- According to our sources, King's fiancée is telling friends King had been drinking and smoked weed in the hours before his death.


Rodney King -- the man who was at the center of the infamous Los Angeles riots -- was found dead this morning in Rialito, CA. He was 47.

According to our sources, King's fiancée found him dead at the bottom of the pool (see photo of the pool below, taken today).


Law enforcement sources tell TMZ they responded to a call at 5:25 AM PT. We're told they physically removed King from the pool and attempted CPR.

Our sources say he was pronounced dead at 6:11 AM.

Law enforcement sources say Rialto PD will open a drowning investigation, but so far there are no signs of foul play.



Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck released a statement today saying, "Rodney King has a unique spot in both the history of Los Angeles and the LAPD. What happened on that cool March night over two decades ago forever changed me and the organization I love. His legacy should not be the struggles and troubles of his personal life but the immensely positive change his existence wrought on this City and its Police Department."

King became famous in 1991 when he was the victim of police brutality at the hands of the LAPD. The officers involved in the incident were acquitted the following year and the announcement of the verdict led to the Los Angeles riots. 

TMZ spoke with King about two months ago, where he seemed upbeat and introspective. 

Rodney King's fiancée is telling friends Rodney had been drinking all day Saturday ... and had smoked weed in the hours leading up to his death ... sources close to King tell TMZ. 

According to our sources, King's fiancée, Cynthia Kelley, is telling friends King was at the house all day drinking, and he smoked marijuana at some point, before she went to bed at 2:00 AM. 

We're told Kelley says she next saw King at around 5:00 AM when she was awoken by him screaming in the backyard. Our sources say Kelley found King naked, banging on the glass, and she called out to him, "What's wrong, Rodney?"

Kelley is telling friends she then went to grab her phone when she heard a big splash. She then went to the backyard and discovered him in the bottom of the pool and called police.

Paramedics attempted to revive King, but were unsuccessful.

Rodney King sounded upbeat and excited about an upcoming celebrity boxing match, this according to a friend who spoke to him just hours before his death.

Damon Feldman -- who worked with King on the boxing circuit and has known him for several years -- tells TMZ he spoke to King at 4:00 PM and they discussed his future in boxing.

Feldman says Rodney was excited about his next boxing match -- a fight with Jose Canseco -- that was to take place in August. A press conference had been scheduled for June 29 to announce the battle.

Feldman tells TMZ that Rodney was thrilled to be working again and looking forward to getting back in the ring. 

King died early this morning at his home in Rialto, CA. He was 47.

It's been 20 years since the Rodney King verdict ignited the L.A. riots ... so Rodney himself helped us celebrate mark the anniversary. Ahh ... memories.

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Rodney King tells TMZ ... he sincerely hopes Trayvon Martin's family will eventually get justice ... but says Trayvon's case makes him realize how lucky he was to have his beating captured on tape.

Just days before the 20 year anniversary of the L.A. riots, King was in NYC promoting his new book in which he describes his journey through the violence ... from the infamous beating at the hands of LAPD officers ... to his public plea for peace.

"It's not one day that goes by that I don't think about the incident ... I get these headaches ... when I [sniff], my sinuses start burning."

Now, with the Trayvon Martin case stirring up similar emotions as his legal saga  ... King says the judicial system is a "slow process" .... and adds, "I'm hoping he gets justice for his family ... 'cause he's no longer here, so for his family."

King went on to talk about how his own life is finally heading in a positive direction ... but noted, "Luckily I got [my attack] seen on tape."

Rodney King just got a slap on the wrist for his DUI arrest last summer -- striking a plea deal in which he won't have to serve a single second behind bars ... despite the fact he has a prior DUI conviction on his record.

Rodney pled guilty today to reckless driving for the July 12, 2011 incident in Riverside County, CA ... and in exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop the DUI charge.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Rodney's blood alcohol level was only .06 at the time of his arrest -- below the legal limit -- but marijuana was also found in his system.

King was sentenced to 20 days house arrest and 3 years summary probation. He is also required to attend a 9-month alcohol education program, and pay a $500 fine plus court costs.

King dodged a major bullet by avoiding the DUI conviction ... because he was convicted for DUI in California back in 2004 ... and in CA, 2 DUI convictions within 10 years means MANDATORY jail time.

"Barbershop" actor Michael Colyar has hired one of Rodney King's former lawyers to pursue a discrimination lawsuit against United Airlines ... because he thinks he was kicked off a plane for being black.

A rep for Colyar tells TMZ the actor has hired attorney Milton Grimes -- who repped King after the infamous 1991 videotaped police beatdown ... and won a $3.8 million settlement.

Colyar claims flight attendants were racially motivated when they kicked him off a United flight at Dulles International Airport last week.

"Can we all get along?"

Rodney King has been charged with misdemeanor DUI -- stemming from his July 12 arrest in Riverside County, CA  .... TMZ has learned.

TMZ broke the story ... King was pulled over after officers claim they witnessed Rodney committing "multiple infractions" behind the wheel. Cops eventually suspected he was under the influence ... and arrested him.

After the arrest, King told CNN he was under the influence of a "medical marijuana prescription."

If convicted, King -- who has a prior DUI convictionon his record -- could face some serious jail time.

Rodney King was suspected of driving while under the influence of marijuana at the time of his arrest yesterday ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.



We're told ... the Riverside County Sheriff's Department deputies who initially stopped King in Moreno Valley, CA yesterday noticed Rodney exhibited physical signs of marijuana use.

King was detained and transported to a nearby station. After King submitted to a sobriety test, he was arrested for DUI.

We're told King also submitted to a blood test -- but the results are not in yet.  King posted bail and was released soon after his arrest.

Sheriffs are expected to submit the case to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office -- which will decide whether to prosecute King.

TMZ has obtained the mug shot for Rodney King -- taken moments after he was arrested on suspicion of DUI.



As we previously reported, Rodney was pulled over in Moreno Valley, CA earlier this afternoon -- after police observed him committing "multiple infractions" in his 1993 Mitsubishi.

Cops transported him to a nearby Riverside Sheriff's station soon after -- where King was eventually booked and arrested on suspicion of DUI.

So far, no word on what cops believe King was under the influence of.