Comic Fuquan Johnson, Two Others Die in Possible Fentanyl-Laced Cocaine Overdose in Venice Beach

Comic Fuquan Johnson, Two Others Die in Possible Fentanyl-Laced Cocaine Overdose in Venice Beach
A homeless individual in Venice Beach, Calif., on June 8, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
City News Service
9/5/2021
Updated:
9/5/2021

VENICE—Comedian Fuquan Johnson and two other people died after apparently overdosing on cocaine laced with fentanyl at a home in Venice, and comedian and model Kate Quigley was in critical condition, according to multiple reports Sept. 5.

Firefighters and paramedics were dispatched at 12:04 a.m. on Sept. 4 to a home in the 200 block of Carroll Canal, where three people were pronounced dead at the scene and another person was rushed to an area hospital, according to Nicholas Prange of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The three fatalities were later identified as Johnson, 43, of North Hollywood; Natalie Williamson, 33, of Los Angeles, and Enrico Colangeli, 48, of Medford, Massachusetts, according to the Los Angeles County coroners’ office. Johnson was a standup comedian and writer for “Comedy Parlour Live.'’

“I love you Fuquan Lateef Johnson! #FuFacts RIP,'' actor and director Damien Dante Wayans tweeted Sunday.

TMZ, which first reported the story, said Quigley lived next to the residence that was the location of the 911 call, and all the victims appeared to have ingested cocaine laced with fentanyl—a powerful opioid blamed for up to millions of overdose deaths across the United States over the last several years.

Autopsies will be conducted on all three victims.