Scott Sterling, the 32-year-old son of controversial Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling, was found dead of an apparent overdose in Malibu last night, sheriff's officials said.

Someone called and asked deputies to check up on Sterling at his beachside home last night, and when cops arrived about 11:30 they found his body, according to a sheriff's department statement.

The person who called, according to the statement, said …

… Sterling had not been heard from for several days so he came to check on him.


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So far there are no indications of foul play. A coroner's official told the Weekly an autopsy would be conducted this week but that, until then, the office can't comment on exact cause of death.

Shaquille O'Neal today tweeted this:

Magic Johnson:

Sterling is perhaps best known for having fired on his childhood friend with a shotgun blast in his father's Beverly Hills home in 1999. Although police said the victim, who survived, was shot from behind from 15 feet away, District Attorney Gil Garcetti's office never filed charges.

The sheriff's department says Sterling was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

They're looking for info on the death and what Sterling might have been up to in the hours and days before his demise. Call 323-890-5500.

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews] s

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