Newly released autopsy findings have provided additional insight into the tragic death of actor Bobby J. Brown, best known for his role in HBO’s The Wire. Brown died in February at the age of 62 after a devastating barn fire at his home in Chaptico, Maryland.
According to the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Brown’s death was officially ruled an accident. The cause of death was determined to be diffuse thermal injuries and smoke inhalation.
A recently released autopsy report, obtained by TMZ, revealed that Brown had consumed alcohol before the fatal incident. Authorities found no evidence of any other drugs in his system.
The report also detailed the severity of his injuries, stating that Brown suffered extensive burns that penetrated deep into his skin and underlying tissue. In addition, his blood carbon monoxide level reached 71 percent, indicating significant smoke inhalation during the fire.
Emergency responders were called to the property after a fire broke out inside a barn. According to an earlier statement from St. Mary’s County officials, firefighters arrived to find the structure almost completely engulfed in flames. Brown had reportedly entered the barn to jump-start a vehicle before the fire erupted.
Officials said family members informed firefighters that Brown was still inside the building. Once the blaze was brought under control, crews discovered his body inside the barn.
Following the tragedy, Brown’s daughter, Reina, shared that her father had asked a family member to bring him a fire extinguisher as the fire spread.
“Everybody is still trying to process it — it’s been difficult for all of us,” she told People shortly after his passing. “My dad was an amazing human being. He was super awesome. He was a pillar in the community, and he’s going to be missed by a lot of people.”
TMZ also reported that Brown’s wife suffered serious burns to her hands while attempting to rescue him from the fire.
Brown was widely recognized for portraying Baltimore police officer Bobby Brown in the critically acclaimed HBO series The Wire. After making an uncredited appearance in the show’s first season, he returned in seasons four and five, appearing in a total of 12 episodes.
Before pursuing acting, Brown enjoyed success as a professional boxer, earning five Golden Gloves championships. He later studied acting in New York, where he was discovered by producer David Simon, who cast him in Homicide: Life on the Street and The Corner before bringing him to The Wire.
Throughout his acting career, Brown also appeared in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and David Simon’s HBO miniseries We Own This City.
Brown is survived by his wife and two daughters. Following his death, his agent, Dr. Albert Bramante, remembered him as “a man of immense talent and incredible discipline.”