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Juice WRLD, popular Chicago rapper, has died at age 21 after "medical emergency" at airport

Rapper "Juice WRLD" dies at age 21
Rapper "Juice WRLD" has died at age 21 00:37

Chicago-area rapper Juice WRLD, whose real name is Jarad A. Higgins, was pronounced dead Sunday after a "medical emergency'' at Midway International Airport, according to authorities.  The Cook County medical examiner's office was notified of the death of Higgins, of Homewood, on Sunday morning, according to office spokeswoman Natalia Derevyanny.

The medical examiner's office said it would perform the autopsy for the 21-year-old Monday. The office told CBS News that Higgins was pronounced dead at 3:14 a.m. at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois, and his body was brought to the medical examiner's office about six hours later.

Witnesses told TMZ, which first reported the news, that the rapper suffered a seizure while walking through the airport. TMZ reported he had just gotten off a plane from California early Sunday morning.

2019 iHeartRadio Music Festival And Daytime Stage
Juice Wrld performs onstage during the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Festival and Daytime Stage at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on September 21, 2019, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bryan Steffy / Getty

Police and fire officials confirmed a 21-year-old male was transported from Midway to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. Chicago police said he experienced a "medical emergency."

Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said the transported man experienced cardiac arrest and was transported to a hospital from a Midway hanger away from the main terminal where private planes land.

Chicago police said they're conducting a death investigation.

Fellow artists and fans were quick to react to the news on social media.

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