Michael Jackson died after being given an injection of the painkiller Demerol, according to multiple reports.

A "close member of Michael Jackson's family" tells TMZ that the singer "received a daily injection of a synthetic narcotic similar to morphine -- Demerol -- and yesterday he received a shot at 11:30 AM."

He went into cardiac and respiratory arrest and was taken to UCLA just after midday, where he died after efforts to resuscitate him failed.

Britain's Sun newspaper claims that Michael's breathing became "slower and slower until it stopped" after the injection.

TMZ also reports that Los Angeles law enforcement want to interview the live-in physician who administered the shot but have so far been unable to locate the doctor.

Jackson family lawyer, Brian Oxman, today spoke out about Michael's alleged dependency on painkilling medication ahead of his London comeback shows.

Michael Jackson 1958 - 2009