Suge Knight Makes Claims About Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Tupac’s Own Mother’s Involvement in the Rapper’s 1996 Death
Nearly three decades ago, one of the most famous rappers was gunned down on a busy Las Vegas street and to this day no one has been charged with his murder.
On Sept. 7, 1996, Tupac Shakur attended the Mike Tyson vs. Bruce Seldon boxing match at the MGM Grand Casino. The “California Love” artist took in the fight with then-Death Row Records head Marion “Suge” Knight. Later that night, Pac was involved in a brawl with South Side Compton Crip member Orlando Anderson after one of Knight’s associates claimed that Anderson tried to steal his Death Row Records medallion. The incident, which was caught on MGM’s surveillance footage, was broken up by the casino’s security.
Following the melee, Tupac and Knight headed to a nightclub but as they sat in Knight’s BMW at a red light on East Flamingo Road a white Cadillac pulled up next to them and fired several shots into the vehicle. Knight was grazed in the head by a bullet while Tupac was hit in the chest, arm, and leg.
Both men were transported to the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. Six days after the shooting Tupac was pronounced dead. Now, Knight is making new claims about the death of one of hip-hop’s GOATs and who he says was involved.
Knight hinted that Diddy ordered Tupac’s murder
Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ name has long been associated with Tupac’s murder as many believe the Bad Boys founder, known in the 90s as Puffy, could have ordered a hit on his West Coast rival.
Anderson, who was shot and killed in an unrelated gang shootout in May 1998, was a suspect in the case until 2024 when Las Vegas prosecutors concluded that he didn’t have the right angle from the car he was in to hit Pac. Andersen’s uncle, Duane “Keefe D” Davis, has been arrested and charged with orchestrating the hit. However, he alleged that Diddy said he “needed to get rid of Knight and Shakur” and offered him $1 million to “handle the problem.”
Diddy has denied any involvement in Tupac’s murder, but Knight isn’t convinced.
The former Death Row executive, who is currently serving a 28-year prison sentence for a 2015 fatal hit-and-run, gave an extensive interview to People from behind bars about that night and Pac’s death.
“I end up with a bullet an inch into my skull, but at the same time, everybody knows where a million dollars came from,” Knight said, seeming point the finger at Diddy. “Like what would Pac want? What he really want is truth. I believe that if something smells like s***, look like s***, it’s s***.”
Knight claims that Tupac asked his mother to help him die
Knight also made a bombshell claim that Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, tried to assist in her son’s death when he asked her to.
Knight alleged that the while in the hospital the “I Ain’t Mad At Cha” rapper was suffering and pleaded with his mom to help him end his life and that she gave him pills to do just that.
According to Knight’s account, “The doctors came in and brought [Tupac] back. And his mom said, ‘Don’t ever do that again. If he’s having complications, don’t touch him. Don’t bring him back. Let him go.’”
On May 2, 2016, Afeni died at her home after going into cardiac arrest. She was 69.
