Suicide suspected in death of Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington

Chester Bennington, lead vocalist of Linkin Park, died of an apparent suicide Thursday morning, the Los Angeles County coroner confirmed. He was 41.

The coroner’s office was notified about Bennington’s death about 9 a.m., said Brian Elias, department chief for the L.A. County medical examiner-coroner. He said the coroner’s office is conducting a death investigation.

Firefighters received a call about 9 a.m. regarding a cardiac arrest in the 2800 block of Via Victoria in Palos Verdes Estates, said Joey Napoli, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The report indicated the male victim had hanged himself, he said.

Firefighters arrived and cleared the scene by 9:29 a.m., Napoli said.

The Palos Verdes Estates Police Department declined to comment about the death.

Obituary: Chester Bennington, singer from influential Southern California rock band LInkin Park, dies at 41 »

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Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington photographed in North Hollywood, where they were rehearsing for an upcomng tour.

  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times )

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Chester Bennington performs with Linkin Park at the Pond in Anaheim on Nov. 10, 2001.  (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)

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Chester Bennington, right, and the rest of Linkin Park -- Brad Delson, Joe Hahn, Mike Shinoda, Dave “Phoenix” Farrell and Rob Bourdon -- arrive at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York on Sept. 6, 2001.   (Suzanne Plunkett / Associated Press)

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Linkin Park pauses for a photo at its rehearsal space in North Hollywood on May 27, 2004. From left: Mr. Hahn, Rob Bourdon, Brad Delson, Mike Shinoda, Phoenix and Chester Bennington.  (Damon Winter / Los Angeles Times)

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Linkin Park, from left, Chester Bennington, Ron Bourdon, Mike Shinoda, Joe Hahn, Brad Delson and Dave “Phoenix” Farrell, in New York on May 11, 2007.  (Jim Cooper / Associated Press)

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Chester Bennington of Linkin Park performs at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland, on June 11, 2007.  (Walter Bieri / Associated Press)

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Chester Bennington, left, with his side project band Dead by Sunrise at KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas on Dec. 12, 2009.  (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

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Bennington fronts Linkin Park at Rock in Rio in Las Vegas on May 9, 2015.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Chester Bennington, left, with Dean DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots at KROQ’s annual Weenie Roast at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine on May 18, 2013.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

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Linkin Park band members Chester Bennington, from left, Mike Shinoda, Rob Bourdon, in background, Brad Delson, in hat, Dave “Phoenix” Farrell and Joe Hahn in North Hollywood on May 15, 2014.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

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Chester Bennington of Linkin Park onstage at the iHeartRadio Theater in Burbank on May 22, 2017.  (Rich Fury / Getty Images for iHeartMedia)

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Chester Bennington, right, performs “Hallelujah” at the funeral for Chris Cornell at the Hollywood Forever cemetery on May 26, 2017, in Los Angeles.  (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)

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Chester Bennington performs with Linkin Park at the VOLT Festival in Sopron, Hungary, on June 27, 2017.  (Balazs Mohai / EPA)

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Chester Bennington performs at the first edition of the Download Festival in Madrid on June 22, 2017.  (Kiko Huesca / EPA)

Linkin Park bandmate, Mike Shinoda, reacted on Twitter to reports of Bennington’s death.

“Shocked and heartbroken, but it’s true,” he said. “An official statement will come out as soon as we have one.”

Shinoda, who performed vocals, keyboards and guitar, co-founded the rap-rock group. Its members include Bennington; DJ and programmer Joe Hahn; drummer/percussionist Rob Bourdon; guitarist Brad Delson and bassist Dave “Phoenix” Farrell.

Linkin Park has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide and won two Grammy Awards for Best Hard Rock Performance and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration with Jay-Z.

Bennington, a native of Phoenix, had a career in music that spanned more than two decades. In addition to his work with Linkin Park, he also performed with Stone Temple Pilots.

When he wasn’t performing onstage, Bennington used his celebrity to promote causes he was passionate about, including the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ “Ink, Not Mink” campaign.

“PETA will always remember Chester Bennington as a musical powerhouse and a powerful force for animal rights,” PETA Vice President Colleen O’Brien said in a statement. “The world lost a kind heart today.”

He was close friends with Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell, who took his own life in May. Bennington posted an emotional letter, discussing how much Cornell influenced him. “Thank you for allowing me be a part of your life,” he wrote.

Bennington performed “Hallelujah” at Chris Cornell’s memorial service in May at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

Twitter: VeronicaRochaLA

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UPDATES:

12:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about singer Chester Bennington and a comment from his bandmate.

This article was originally published at 12:10 p.m.