Twenty years ago, Tupac Shakur was shot in Las Vegas. His death remains a mystery. The rapper left a legacy. |
Today marks 20 years since the fatal shooting of rapper Tupac Shakur. On September 7, 1996, Shakur and Marion "Big Suge" Knight were ambushed by an unknown gunman after driving on the Las Vegas strip.
After leaving a Mike Tyson boxing match, 'Pac and Suge were on their way to an afterparty when this event happened. Suge was driving his black BMW when a pearly white Cadillac sedan pulled alongside and fired upon the car.
'Pac was rushed to the hospital and placed on life support. He would die of his injuries on September 13, 1996. The case remains open and to this day, no one has come forward with information.
Many in the junk food media accused Orlando Anderson as the gunman. He was known as "Baby Lane" in the South LA area. He was a Crip member who was brutally beaten at the MGM Grand Hotel by 'Pac and his bodyguards.
When the video of the attack on Anderson came to light, they saw that Big Suge was throwing them bows. So he violated his parole and sent back to the iron college for nearly 10 years.
Anderson was later gunned down in a Los Angeles car wash. He was primarily the focus of the Las Vegas Metro Police.
As of today, we mourn the loss of Tupac Shakur, a poetic, spiritual, troubled and controversial figure in hip-hop. Hailed as one of the greatest rappers known, Tupac Shakur was a product of his environment.
His father and mother were both active in the Black Panthers movement. Tupac learned the rules of the game at an early age. He was artistic, gifted, intelligent and savvy.
He wanted to strive for great things.
His life was cut short at age 25. He was engaged in a bitter feud with rival rappers from the east.
Notably the Notorious B.I.G. who 'Pac accused of setting him up at a recording studio in New York.
That led to the great war of the coasts.
To this day, 'Pac's life is fascinating.
Note: Afeni Shakur passed away this year after suffering from a heart attack. Big Suge is currently facing a murder charge after he ran over a man on the filming set of Straight Outta Compton.