The death of Michael Jackson is being investigated as a homicide, according to the Associated Press.
The news seems to vindicate an article posted in mid-July by TMZ that was discredited by law enforcement officials in other media outlets.
The AP attributes the claim to an unidentified law enforcement official, who said the Los Angeles County coroner has ruled the death a homicide.
It is widely speculated that criminal charges will be filed against Dr. Conrad Murray, the physician hired by Michael Jackson who tried without success to revive the pop star in his rented Los Angeles mansion on June 25.
Murray has been the target of intense scrutiny ever since the pop singer died in the mansion of cardiac arrest, starting with a TMZ report in mid-July stating that the doctor was the focus of a homicide investigation.
The same day, a spokesman from the Los Angeles Police Department denied the claim, and MSNBC reported TMZ's story to be inaccurate.
The official said the coroner found the powerful anesthetic propofol in Jackson's system, along with two sedatives.
Today, TMZ reports that Murray told authorities he treated Jackson for insomnia by administering the propofol through an IV. On the day of Jackson's death, Murray reportedly went to the bathroom immediately after administering the drug. When he returned two minutes later, he found Jackson unconscious and tried to revive him.
He reportedly called 911 at 12:21 p.m. -- more than an hour after Jackson collapsed.
