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TMZ is reporting that Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington was found dead on Thursday morning at a private residence in Palos Verdes Estates. According to TMZ, the 41-year-old singer committed suicide by hanging. A representative for the Palos Verdes Police Department told LAist that they were not able to confirm Bennington's death, but they could say that officers had responded to a call at a Palos Verdes Estates residence at 8:56 a.m.
Bennington was the lead vocalist for Linkin Park, and also briefly served as the frontman for Stone Temple Pilots from 2013 to 2015. He was born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1976. He had six children and was married at the time of his death to his second wife, Talinda Bentley.
Linkin Park rocketed to fame following the release of their debut Hybrid Theory, which was the best-selling album of 2001. The alternative rock band's most recent album, One More Light, was released in May and also topped the Billboard charts.
According to TMZ, Bennington was close friends with the late singer Chris Cornell, who committed suicide in May. Today would have been Cornell's 53rd birthday.
Cornell toured with Linkin Park in 2007 and 2008, according to Variety, and Bennington remembered his friend in an open letter released on Twitter shortly after Cornell's death.
With all of my love @chriscornell. pic.twitter.com/NFz0dnxfp8
— Chester Bennington (@ChesterBe) May 18, 2017
Bennington has talked in the pastabout how he considered suicide after the end of his first marriage in 2005 and has also been open about his struggles with addiction.
If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide: do not leave the person alone; remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt; and call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional.
Update [12:15 p.m.]: Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda has confirmed the death on Twitter.
Shocked and heartbroken, but it's true. An official statement will come out as soon as we have one.
— Mike Shinoda (@mikeshinoda) July 20, 2017
