Rapper Coolio's Cause Of Death 'Deferred' By L.A. County Coroner's Office

Rapper Coolio's official cause of death has been "deferred" by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office pending further investigation.

According to investigators assigned to the case, Coolio's cause of death cannot be immediately identified due to pending toxicology tests and an autopsy.

This is very common in cases where investigators need more information surrounding the minutes and hours before someone's death, especially if they were not suffering from any illnesses.

As we reported, Coolio was found unresponsive on a bathroom floor inside a friend's house. Initial reports indicated that the rapper went into the bathroom, and then after not coming out for some time, was found by a friend.

Coolio's manager says they were told the rapper might have suffered a heart attack but were waiting on an official word back from authorities. It should be noted, that one report suggests no drug paraphernalia was found near or around the rapper's body. Obviously, considering the circumstances, many believed drug use might have played a part in his death.

At this point, a toxicology report will be conducted to see if anything was in the rapper's bloodstream which might have contributed to his death. Also, the Los Angeles County Coroner's office will conduct an autopsy to make an official cause of death. The case was also assigned to an investigator, who will interview witnesses, and medical records surrounding the incident.

Tragically, paramedics who responded to the 911 call found him unresponsive and performed "resuscitation efforts for approximately 45 minutes."

Coolio was staying at a friend's house in Los Angeles, after arriving in town to renew his passport. The rapper had shows in Germany this weekend and needed to update it to fly overseas. At this point, it's unclear if the rapper was suffering from any illness or symptoms prior to his death.

The rapper's manager issued a statement confirming his death, saying, "We are saddened by the loss of our dear friend and client, Coolio, who passed away Wednesday afternoon. He touched the world with the gift of his talent and will be missed profoundly. Please have Coolio's loved ones in your thoughts and prayers."

Coolio was known for his massive hit, 'Gangsta's Paradise' which was used in the film 'Dangerous Minds' starring Michele Pfeiffer.The actress led celebrity tributes on social media following the death, writing, "Heartbroken to hear of the passing of the gifted artist Coolio. A life cut entirely too short." Adding, "As some of you may know I was lucky enough to work with him on Dangerous Minds in 1995. He won a Grammy for his brilliant song on the soundtrack – which I think was the reason our film saw so much success. I remember him being nothing but gracious. 30 years later I still get chills when I hear the song. Sending love and light to his family. Rest in Power, Artis Leon Ivey Jr."

The toxicology tests for a high-profile case of this magnitude normally take several weeks to complete.

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