The cause of the tragic passing of 21-year-old artist Juice WRLD remains unclear, with reports claiming the musician died during an airport drug raid.
Over the last 24 hours, the music world has been coming to terms with the premature death of 21-year-old Juice WRLD, the musical moniker of Jarad Anthony Higgins.
According to initial reports, the artist’s private flight landed at Chicago’s Midway airport shortly after 1am on Sunday, December 8th, where witnesses claim he suffered a seizure. Law enforcement also stated he had been bleeding from the mouth by the time paramedics arrived.
Now though, The New York Times reports that despite an initial autopsy being unable to determine an official cause of death, the circumstances surrounding his passing have begun to “fill in some blanks”.
Reportedly, law enforcement officials were on hand at the Chicago airport prior to Juice WRLD’s arrival, waiting with the intent of searching his private plane due to information received from a federal task force that guns and drugs may be on board.
While TMZ notes that the late artist reportedly took “several unknown pills” prior to the search, it was during this time that he began to suffer a seizure. While paramedics attempted to treat him by administering Narcan, their efforts were unsuccessful and he passed away at a nearby hospital shortly after 3am.
The NYT notes that authorities Juice WRLD’s plane was reportedly carrying approximately “70 pounds of marijuana in 41 vacuum-sealed bags; six bottles of liquid prescription codeine cough syrup; and three firearms, including two 9 mm pistols and a .40-caliber pistol, along with metal-piercing bullets and a high-capacity ammunition magazine.”
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While none of Juice WRLD’s crew were charged with drug offences, two of his security personnel have since been charged with misdemeanours related to firearms.
At the current time, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office have stated that the findings of their initial autopsy have been inconclusive, with further tests expected to be administered in order to determine a conclusive cause of death.
Juice WRLD was last in Australia in late November, performing his final concert as part of the Spilt Milk festival in Ballarat. Our thoughts go out to his friends, family, and colleagues at this difficult time.
Check out ‘Lucid Dreams’ by Juice WRLD:
