Michael Jackson's family said Saturday they are seeking a private, second autopsy to figure out what caused the sudden death of the American pop icon Thursday at his Los Angeles home.
The Los Angeles County coroner's office conducted an autopsy of Jackson's body Friday and said there were no indications of external trauma or foul play. But, it said it may take weeks to examine all the tests and determine the exact cause of death.
The entertainment Web site TMZ, which broke the news about Jackson's death, reported Saturday the second autopsy was already under way "somewhere in Los Angeles."
The Los Angeles police department interviewed Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, for a second time Saturday. Murray was with Jackson when he went into cardiac arrest. A spokeswoman for the doctor said Murray is not a suspect.
The police released a statement after the interview saying, "Dr. Murray was cooperative and provided information which will aid the investigation."
Media reports say Murray injected Jackson with the powerful prescription drug Demerol shortly before his death. Jackson has battled addiction to painkillers for years.
Jackson's father, Joseph, described the singer's death to People magazine as "one of the darkest moments" in the family's life. He thanked his son's fans for the outpouring of support.
People around the world are paying respects to the music legend. In the United States, many fans gathered around locations linked to the music star. In New York's Harlem neighborhood, friends and community leaders gathered at the Apollo Theater where Jackson first performed with his siblings at the age of nine.
In his home town of Gary, Indiana, fans held a candlelight vigil and created a makeshift shrine outside his childhood home.
A number of previously scheduled pop music events are being retooled as tributes to the King of Pop.
Jackson died two months before his 51st birthday as he was preparing to launch a series of comeback concerts in London next month.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
