TikTok star Cooper Noriega found dead hours after uploading a chilling video about dying young
- TikTok star Cooper Noriega is dead at the age of 19.
- The Los Angeles Medical Examiner-Coroner told People that a cause of death has not been determined.
Cooper Noriega, a TikTok star and mental health advocate, has died at age 19.
A Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner spokesperson told People that Noriega was pronounced dead in a Burbank parking lot on Thursday. The cause of death was deferred, meaning, "after an autopsy, a cause of death has not been determined and the medical examiner is requesting more investigation," the outlet reported.
The spokesperson added, "once the tests/studies come back, the doctor evaluates the case again and makes the cause of death determination."
TMZ broke the news on Friday and it was later reported by the BFFs podcast's Twitter account. Noriega was a featured guest on June 1, People reports.
Representatives for the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner and Noriega did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
Hours before his death, Noriega shared a TikTok video in which he questioned, "who else b thinking they gon [die] young af." The video has amassed more than 13 million views and more than 57,000 comments from mourning fans so far.
Five days before that, Noriega revealed he created a mental health text channel on Discord, a popular chatting app, and discussed his experience with addiction on Instagram. He also shared a TikTok video about Discord.
"I've been struggling with addiction since I was 9 years old," Noriega wrote in the Instagram post. "You may think that's crazy, but that's the life I've been dealt. I would like to use the influence I've been given to create a space built on spreading awareness and normalizing talking about mental health."
Noriega continued that he hoped to open a rehab center "where people aren't traumatized at the end of their recovery, and where staff members are trusted people."
Cooper was a popular social media star with 2.2 million followers on TikTok and 520,000 on Instagram. He often posted videos of his day-to-day life, as well as captured moments with friends and spoke about mental health.
Following his death, his friends shared tributes on social media.
Anthony Reeves, known as Luv Anthony, shared an Instagram post on Friday.
"Really couldn't have asked for a better best fucking friend," Reeves wrote. "I love you Cooper. I fucking love you man. Rest Easy bub."
Chase Hudson, also known as Lil Huddy, shared a tribute on TikTok.
"i met cooper two years ago when i needed someone. the day we met, we talked for hours on end, that conversation changed me," Hudson wrote on Friday.