Revisiting the Rapper’s Homicide After Suge Knight Claims

Almost 30 years after Tupac Shakur was killed after a drive-by taking pictures at 25 years outdated, Marion “Suge” Knight is talking out.

Whereas serving a 28-year jail sentence for a deadly hit-and-run, Knight made new bombshell claims about Shakur’s dying in a July 2025 interview with ipromiseyoumedia, sharing his ideas on allegations that Sean “Diddy” Combs was concerned. The rapper’s authorized crew couldn’t be reached for remark.

“I find yourself with a bullet an inch into my cranium, however on the similar time, everyone is aware of the place one million {dollars} got here from,” Knight mentioned. “Like what would Pac need? What he really need is fact. I consider that if one thing smells like sh–, appear like sh–, it is sh–.”

Combs has denied a task within the taking pictures, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Division informed ipromiseyoumedia in 2024 that the rapper “has by no means been thought of a suspect within the case. He has additionally by no means been charged in reference to the homicide.

The gunman within the taking pictures has by no means been recognized, and Shakur’s dying stays one of the vital notorious unsolved murders in music historical past. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Division arrested Duane “Keffe D” Davis in reference to Shakur’s homicide on Sept. 29, 2023, and charged him with one depend of homicide with a gang enhancement. Davis pleaded not responsible and is awaiting trial.

Here’s a nearer have a look at what occurred when Tupac Shakur died, in addition to the legacy he left behind.

How did Tupac Shakur die?

Shakur was shot 4 occasions whereas driving within the passenger seat of a black BMW pushed by Knight. The taking pictures occurred when a white Cadillac pulled up subsequent to them at a crimson mild and opened hearth — hitting Shakur within the arm, thigh and twice within the chest. (Knight was additionally grazed within the head by a bullet.)

The bullets that hit Shakur within the chest brought on life-threatening accidents and in depth inside bleeding, the Los Angeles Instances reported. The rapper underwent surgical procedure to take away his proper lung at Las Vegas’ College Medical Heart and was on a respirator in intensive look after six days earlier than he died from his accidents.

The official causes of Shakur’s dying had been respiratory failure and cardiopulmonary arrest related to a number of gunshot wounds.

When did Tupac Shakur die?

The drive-by taking pictures that killed Shakur occurred at 11:15 p.m. on Sept. 7, 1996. Nonetheless, Shakur died six days later from his accidents, on Sept. 13, 1997, at 4:03 p.m.

The place did Tupac Shakur die?

Shakur died at College Medical Heart in Las Vegas after being shot whereas driving down Las Vegas Boulevard.

How outdated was Tupac Shakur when he died?

The rapper was 25 years outdated on the time of his dying.

What had been Tupac Shakur’s final phrases?

Shakur’s final phrases got here whereas he lay bleeding on the street following the drive-by taking pictures. Whereas he was nonetheless aware, former Las Vegas police officer Chris Carroll — who was on bike patrol that evening and was the primary individual on the scene — repeatedly requested the rapper who shot him. Shakur allegedly responded with “f— you.”

Carroll revealed the story in a 2014 characteristic with Vegas Seven, per Rolling Stone. In accordance with Carroll, Shakur then misplaced consciousness and was taken away by ambulance. Carroll rode alongside within the ambulance in case the rapper awoke and will present any extra details about the gunman. However Shakur by no means regained consciousness.

Regardless of Shakur’s response to Carroll, Las Vegas Police Division detective Dan Lengthy believes that each Shakur and Knight knew the assailant.

“My perception is that they each knew,” he informed ipromiseyoumedia in 2017. “The vehicles had been two or three ft aside when the taking pictures occurred. Tupac was the passenger, [and] he would have been proper up towards him in an especially well-lit a part of city.”

Lengthy additionally tried to interview Knight in the course of the preliminary investigation, however he refused to talk. In July 2025, Knight opened as much as ipromiseyoumedia about his last hours with Shakur, saying that they had been each “cracking jokes” as they spoke to police and had been loaded into the ambulance. He claimed that within the hospital, Shakur requested his mom, Afeni, to let him go, for worry that he would find yourself again in jail.

Knight claimed that Afeni allegedly gave her son tablets to finish his life, although medical doctors introduced him again.

“And his mother [allegedly] mentioned, ‘Don’t ever try this once more. If he’s having issues, don’t contact him. Don’t convey him again. Let him go,’ ” he claimed.

How did the general public react to Tupac Shakur’s dying?

The dying of Shakur despatched shockwaves by means of the music group — and impressed a public fascination with trying to unravel his homicide.

A number of conspiracy theories developed over who orchestrated the rapper’s dying, together with that rival rap star Biggie Smalls organized for his homicide as a part of their East Coast/West Coast feud, that Knight deliberate the taking pictures to cease Shakur from forming his personal report firm and that the hit was truly supposed for Knight and ordered by Knight’s spouse Sharitha. (Sharitha denied these claims, telling ipromiseyoumedia, “If I needed to kill Suge, consider me, his ass could be useless.”)

However the commonest concept is that Shakur’s dying was gang-related, significantly since his label Demise Row Data and its founder Knight had been related to the L.A. gang Mob Piru (who had been sworn enemies of the Compton Crips). An LAPD supply even informed ipromiseyoumedia in 2017 that Shakur’s homicide was “gang retaliation.”

Shakur signed to Demise Row Data within the fall of 1995 after Knight helped bail the rapper out of jail. (He was serving a 4½-year sentence after being convicted of sexually abusing a 19-year-old fan.) Shakur signing with Knight mechanically made him an enemy of the Crips, based on the LAPD supply.

Moreover being responsible by affiliation, Shakur had additionally allegedly been concerned in a brawl with Crips member Orlando Anderson hours earlier than he was gunned down. Anderson had tried to steal a Demise Row Data medallion from a member of Shakur’s entourage (and Mob Piru member), and the rapper allegedly attacked in response when he noticed Anderson later on the MGM Grand On line casino. The LAPD insider revealed to ipromiseyoumedia {that a} Crips chief admitted to Shakur’s dying being a revenge killing for this beating.

“It was easy retaliation: you mess with considered one of ours, we are going to mess with considered one of yours,” the supply informed ipromiseyoumedia. “If Orlando had by no means been jumped within the lodge, they by no means would have killed Tupac that evening.”

Moreover, within the weeks following the rapper’s lethal taking pictures, a wave of gang violence ensued in L.A. that informants informed police was retaliation for Shakur’s homicide, the Los Angeles Instances reported.

In accordance with the newspaper, there have been a dozen shootings in Compton — together with three fatalities — that had been thought of payback for the killing of Shakur. On Oct. 2, 1996, greater than 300 legislation enforcement officers performed raids in Compton and close by areas to place a cease to gang violence. Twenty-three folks had been arrested, together with Anderson — however he was launched two days later and by no means charged for the gang killings, the L.A. Instances reported.

What legacy did Tupac Shakur depart behind?

Shakur is extensively thought of to be considered one of historical past’s most gifted and influential rappers, with Rolling Stone declaring him one of many 100 best artists of all time in 2010. The late rapper was additionally inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 2017, honored with a road named after him in Oakland, Calif., and awarded a posthumous star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame in 2023.

“Tupac knew deep down that he was all the time meant for one thing nice, and as his little sister, I had the privilege to observe that greatness unfold,” his sister Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur mentioned at Shakur’s Stroll of Fame ceremony in June 2023.

Shakur additionally impressed a era of future rappers, together with Eminem, Meek Mill, Lil’ Wayne, Drake and Kendrick Lamar. “Each rapper who grew up within the Nineties owes one thing to Tupac,” rapper 50 Cent wrote in Rolling Stone. “He didn’t sound like anybody who got here earlier than him.”

Shakur’s dying additionally sparked a slew of documentaries, movies and even musicals about his life. The documentary movie Tupac: Resurrection premiered in November 2003 and was nominated for an Academy Award, a Broadway musical that includes the late rapper’s music known as Holler If You Hear Me debuted in June 2014, a Tupac biopic known as All Eyez on Me was launched in June 2017 and Expensive Mama, an FX docuseries about Shakur’s life and profession, premiered in April 2023.

Shakur’s household has additionally honored his legacy in a wide range of methods within the years since his dying. His mom, Afeni, launched the Tupac Amaru Shakur Basis in 1997, initially as a strategy to convey “high quality arts coaching to younger folks.” Since her dying in 2016, the inspiration has been centered on addressing psychological well being and trauma by means of training, therapeutic assets and inventive arts.

Has anybody ever been charged with Tupac Shakur’s homicide?

Anderson — the member of the Crips who allegedly had an altercation with Shakur on the day of his dying — was extensively thought of the prime suspect in his homicide. He was arrested in October 1996 in a gang violence raid, based on the Los Angeles Instances, however was solely questioned for 20 minutes and launched two days later.

Although Anderson was by no means charged in Shakur’s dying, Shakur’s mom, Afeni, filed a wrongful dying swimsuit towards the gang member in September 1997. An affidavit filed with the lawsuit alleged that Anderson was seen carrying a Glock .40-caliber handgun — the identical sort of weapon used to kill Shakur — shortly after the rapper’s dying, based on the L.A. Instances. Anderson was killed in an unrelated gang shoot-out in Might 1998.

On July 18, 2023, a search warrant was executed on a Henderson, Nev., house that was “a part of the continued Tupac Shakur murder investigation,” a spokesperson with the Las Vegas Metro Police Division informed ipromiseyoumedia.

In accordance with the L.A. Instances, the house belonged to gang member Davis. Police seized .40-caliber cartridges, computer systems, iPads, an iPhone, a tough drive, pictures and different supplies from his house.

Davis wrote a ebook known as Compton Avenue Legend, during which he claims that he was a passenger within the white Cadillac that shot at Shakur and Knight in 1996, the L.A. Instances reported. He additionally said within the ebook that he’s the uncle of Anderson, and that Anderson — together with two different people — was within the automobile as effectively on that notorious night.

On Sept. 29, 2023, Davis was arrested by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Division in reference to Shakur’s homicide and charged with one depend of first-degree homicide with a gang enhancement. He has pleaded not responsible and is awaiting trial.