Rodney King whose videotaped beating once made him an international symbol of police brutality, has been shot and wounded.
An intoxicated Mr King summoned officers to his home in Rialto, about 96km east of LA, last night to report he had been shot.
'He had some minor pepper wounds that looked like they were from bird shot,' said police who described the injuries as 'extremely minor.'
Mr King told police the shooting took place while he was riding his bicycle in neighbouring San Bernardino. Mr King rode his bicycle home after the incident and it was not immediately clear who fired the shot
Mr King's videotaped beating by Los Angeles police at the conclusion of a high-speed chase on 3 March 1991, caused an international furore amid charges of brutality and racism.
The acquittal of four officers in April 1992 touched off some of the worst urban riots in modern US history, causing more than 50 deaths, thousands of injuries and more than $1 billion in damage.
Two of the officers, Laurence Powell and Stacey Koon, were later convicted of federal charges and sentenced to 30-month prison terms.
A civil jury awarded King $3.8 million in damages.
