Authorities have confirmed that actor Bobby J. Brown, known for his role in the HBO series "The Wire," died from diffuse thermal injury and smoke inhalation. The Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner released the findings four months after Brown's passing in a barn fire on February 24.
Examiners determined that Brown suffered "fourth-degree burns" in the incident. According to records reviewed by US Weekly, the report stated that "a few brown hairs on the scalp, but the vast majority were singed off." The actor's daughter, Reina, told People that her father had attempted to get a fire extinguisher amid the blaze.
Toxicology reports indicated that Brown had been consuming alcoholic beverages prior to his death and tested negative for drugs. Carbon monoxide was detected in 71 percent of his blood.
Brown, who also appeared in "Veep," "Homicide: Life on the Street," and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," was found to have extensive burns, with skin absent from parts of his chest, arm, and lower extremities.
Reina Brown described the shock of learning about her father's death via a phone call late on February 24. "I literally went outside and put both my feet on my front walk," she recounted to People. "It's cold, and I stood out in my bare feet in a nightgown because I wanted to make sure I was really awake."
She characterized her father as "an amazing human being" and "a pillar in the community" who will be missed by many. Albert Bramante, Brown's agent, called him "an actor of immense talent and even greater integrity," adding that his dedication to acting defined him as an artist. Bramante requested privacy for Brown's family and loved ones.