Nathan "Bodie" Barksdale, Who Inspired "The Wire," Dead at the Age of 54

Nathan Barksdale, a drug kingpin who inspired characters on the HBO hit show "The Wire," including Avon Barksdale, has died while serving time in a North Carolina prison. The news was confirmed by Baltimore Health Department spokesman Sean Naron, who did not elaborate on the 54-year-old's cause of death. 

After serving 15 years on a battery charge, Barksdale began working with Safe Streets an anti-violence program run by the Health Department. However, he went back to prison after pleading guilty to participating in a drug conspiracy in 2014, and he was handed a four-year sentence. 

Chaz Williams, who once managed 50 Cent and Foxy Brown, paid tribute to Barksdale, which you can catch in the above slide.

Source: The Epoch Times