Investigators look at overdose in Prince death
MINNEAPOLIS — Investigators are looking into whether Prince died from a drug overdose and whether a doctor was prescribing him drugs in the weeks before he was found dead at his home in suburban Minneapolis, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The official said that among the things investigators are looking at is whether a doctor was on a plane that made an emergency landing in Illinois less than a week before Prince died.
The law enforcement official has been briefed on the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
The official said investigators are also looking into what kind of drugs were on plane and at his house in suburban Minneapolis.
The official also confirmed some details that have previously been reported by other media outlets, including TMZ.
Prince’s plane made an emergency stop in Moline, in western Illinois, and he was found unconscious on the plane, the official said. The person said first responders gave Prince a shot of Narcan, which is used in suspected opioid overdoses. The official said the shot was given when the plane was on the runway in Moline, Illinois, as Prince returned to Minneapolis following a performance in Atlanta.
The official said investigators are looking at whether Prince overdosed on the plane and whether an overdose killed him, and at what kind of drugs were involved. One possibility is the powerful painkiller Percocet or something similar, the official said.
Narcan can be used on people even if an overdose isn’t confirmed because it wouldn’t necessarily be harmful.
A second law enforcement official told AP that prescription drugs were discovered at Prince’s home when the musician was found dead.
That official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about the ongoing investigation into Prince’s death. The official did not elaborate.
Prince died April 21. An autopsy has been performed, but results weren’t expected for three to four weeks. The search warrant for Prince’s Paisley Park home and studio — carried out the day of his death — was filed Thursday under seal at the request of investigators who said it would hamper their investigation if contents were public.
The filing, signed by Carver County Chief Deputy Jason Kamerud, also warned that disclosing details in the warrant could cause “the search or related searches to be unsuccessful” and risk injury to innocent people.
Kamerud declined to comment Thursday on the reports of drugs found at Paisley Park, and told AP that he strongly disputed reports by several media outlets that investigators had asked the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for help in the case.
“We have not asked them for help, or asked them to be a part of the investigation,” Kamerud said. “We might contact them to help us, but that hasn’t happened. We don’t have the medical examiner’s report yet. We don’t know to what extent pharmaceuticals could be a part of this.”
Leo Hawkins, a DEA spokesman in Chicago, said he had no comment.
Prince’s death came two weeks after he canceled concerts in Atlanta, saying he wasn’t feeling well. He played a pair of makeup shows April 14 in that city. Prince was scheduled to perform two shows in St. Louis but canceled them shortly before his death due to health concerns.
Longtime friend and collaborator Sheila E. has told the AP that Prince had physical issues from performing, citing hip and knee problems that she said came from years of jumping off risers and stage speakers in heels.
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Tarm reported from Chicago. Tucker reported from Washington, D.C.
FILE – In this Nov. 22, 2015 file photo, Prince presents the award for favorite album – soul/R&B at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles. Authorities are investigating a death at Paisley Park, where pop superstar Prince has his recording studios. Jason Kamerud, Carver County chief sheriff’s deputy, tells the Minneapolis Star Tribune that the investigation began on Thursday morning, April 21, 2016. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)
Rock singer Prince sings to a full house on the first of two nights at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Aug. 3, 1986. (AP Photo/Mario Suriani)
Rock singer Prince performs at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., during his opening show, Feb. 18, 1985. (AP Photo/Liu Heung Shing)
Rock star Prince performs in concert before a sold-out audience at the Summit in Houston, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 11, 1985. This is his first of six shows in Houston. (AP Photo/F. Carter Smith)
** FOR USE WITH AP SPECIAL EDITION MOTHERS/FATHERS DAY ** Musical artist Prince performs in concert in this August 2, 1986 file photo. Prince’s songs relied more on double entendre so risque bits could fly safely over the heads of younger listeners. (AP File Photo/Mario Suriani)
Rock singer Prince points skyward during his performance at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Fla., April 7, 1985. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)
Prince performs during the 6th annual BET Awards on Tuesday, June 27, 2006, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Prince performs with the New Power Generation at Radio City Music Hall in New York, March 23, 1993. He is touring again after a five year break. (AP Photo/ Paul Hurschmann)
Prince performs during his headlining set on the second day of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., Saturday, April 26, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Musician Prince performs on stage with singer Tamar during ABC’s “Good Morning America” summer concert series in New York, Friday, June 16, 2006. (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen)
Singer Prince arrives with his wife Manuela Testolini for the 77th Academy Awards Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005, in Los Angeles. Prince will be a presenter during the Oscars telecast. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
EDITORS: PARTIAL NUDITY. Musician/singer Prince performs his single “Get Off”, surrounded by half-naked dancers, while clad in a see through yellow suit at the 8th Annual MTV Video Music Awards in Universal City, Calif., Sept. 5, 1991. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Singing Star Prince is all smiles as he addresses the audience at the American Music Awards Monday evening, Jan. 27, 1986 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Singer Prince performs at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles, Jan. 28, 1985. (AP Photo/Doug Pizac)
In this Saturday evening, Aug. 6 2011 photo American singer and songwriter Prince performs on the Isle of Amager in Copenhagen, Denmark. The concert was the first of two and it was interupted by heavy rain. (AP Photo/Polfoto/Jakob Joergensen) DENMARK OUT
Singer Prince performs at the 1985 GrammyÂ’s Award at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Feb. 26, 1985. (AP Photo)
In this Saturday evening, Aug. 6 2011 photo American singer and songwriter Prince performs on the Isle of Amager in Copenhagen, Denmark. The concert was the first of two and it was interupted by heavy rain. (AP Photo/Polfoto/Jakob Joergensen) DENMARK OUT
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 19: Recording artist Prince performs during the 2013 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 19, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The artist formally known as Prince, with the word “Slave” written across his face, belts out a tune from his new CD, “Chaos and Disorder,” outside the studio of NBC-TV’s “Today” show in New York’s Rockefeller Plaza, Tuesday, July 9, 1996. The CD is scheduled for release on Wednesday, July 10. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
As dozens of singers perform “We Are The World” on the 10th anniversary of the African famine relief anthem, the artist formerly known as Prince, left, stands sucking on a lollipop next to Quincy Jones, at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles, January 30, 1995. ( AP Photo/ Reed Saxon )
U.S. pop singer Prince, left, watches the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament between Spain’s Rafael Nadal and Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France, Monday, June 2, 2014. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)
The artist formerly known as Prince performs with Mayte and other dancers during the VH1 Fashion & Music Awards show in New York Sunday, Dec. 3, 1995. (AP Photo/Adam Nadel)
Boxing great Muhammad Ali, right, pats the head of the Artist Formerly Known as Prince during a meeting in Washington Tuesday, June 24, 1997 prior to a news conference where they were to announce plans for a benefit concert in October. The World Healing Honors will be a grand benefit concert to promote international harmony and tolerance. (AP Photo/Karin Cooper/Rogers & Cowan)
Singer Prince is shown in concert in 1985, (AP Photo)
The artist formerly known as Prince performs at the debut of his new album, “Emancipation”, at his Paisley Park studio in Channhassen, Minn., Tuesday night, Nov. 12, 1996. The concert was broadcast live via satellite and was available on the Internet (AP Photo/Adam M. Bettcher)
FILE – In this Oct. 7, 2009 file photo, U.S singer Prince attends John Galliano’s Spring-Summer 2010 fashion collection, presented in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, file)
US singer Prince, seen, before the presentation of Chanel’s spring summer 2010 ready-to-wear fashion collection by German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009, in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Rock singer Prince performs at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., during his opening show, Feb. 18, 1985. (AP Photo/Liu Heung Shing)
The Artist, formerly known as Prince, performs at the Festhalle in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday night, Dec. 22, 1998, during the first of three concerts in Germany as part of his “New Power Soul” tour. (AP Photo/Bernd Kammerer)
Britain’s Prince Charles talks with The Artist, formerly known as Prince, left, at the “Diamonds are Forever” celebration at Syon House, London Wednesday, June 9, 1999. The celebration was to include the unveiling of a multi-million dollar diamond jewelry collection, the first-ever Versace fashion show in Britain and a live performance by Jon Bon Jovi. The Artist’s wife Mayte is at center. (AP Photo/Dave Hogan/pool)
The artist formerly known as Prince looks to photographers during a photo-opportunity at a news conference announcing his upcoming tour, in New York, July 22, 1997. (AP Photo/Adam Nadel)
Popstar Prince pictured performing to Dutch fans in the Galgenwaard Football Stadium in Utrecht Friday night, June 19, 1987 the first concert of three to be held in the Netherlands, part of Prince’s European Tour. (AP Photo/Barbara Walton)
The Artist, formerly known as Prince, speaks at GQ magazine’s third annual Men of the Year Awards in New York on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 1998. The Artist presented comedian Chris Rock with GQ’s Television Comedy award. (AP Photo/Mitch Jacobson)
Former Sly and the Family Stone bassist Larry Grahm, left, shares the stage with The artist formerly known as Prince, during a suprise appearance at a nightclub on Friday, April 10, 1998, in New York. The Artist was honored with an award for his extraordinary musical achievements at the 1998 Essence Awards celebration in New York. (AP Photo/Suzanne Plunkett)
Rock singer Prince speaks at the American Music Awards,, Jan. 27, 1986 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Prince presents the award for record of the year at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)
Prince performs during the halftime show at Super Bowl XLI at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Rock singer Prince performs at the Orange Bowl during his Purple Rain tour in Miami, Fla., April 7, 1985. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)