Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson is dead at 50

Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson died on Sunday after a battle with cancer, just days after he announced that he would be undergoing treatment.

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson died on Sunday after a battle with cancer, just days after he announced that he would be undergoing treatment to try to fight the disease. Thompson, who was 50, died at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, according to his family.

“Ken was a dedicated public servant who embodied the highest principles of the law, and his grand presence will be sorely missed,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo, adding that, in tribute to Thompson, flags would be flown at half-staff on Monday.

“With a life and promise cut far too short, our city was blessed with but a glimpse of Ken’s unwavering commitment to justice and his unrivaled pursuit of a more fair system for all those he served,” said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“He was a giant among those seeking to reform the criminal justice system and we are all privileged to have worked under his transformative leadership these past three years,” said Chief Assistant District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.

Thompson’s passing comes just days after he announced last Tuesday that he was battling cancer, though he did not specify which kind. He said that he would be taking absences from his position in order to seek treatment, saying,  “As a man of intense faith, I intend to fight and win the battle against this disease.”

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