The Killing of Tupac Shakur
Encyclopedia
The Killing of Tupac Shakur, a biographical and true-crime account, by journalist
and author Cathy Scott
, of the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur
. The book made news upon its September 1997 release, on the first anniversary of Shakur's death, because of an autopsy photo included in its pages. It was the first book to be released after the rapper's death. The book was reprinted in the UK by Plexus Publishing. Coverage of the autopsy photo, taken of Shakur's body on a gurney in the coroner's examining room, catapulted the book onto the Los Angeles Times
bestseller
list.
when Tupac was gunned down on September 7, 1996, in a drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas Strip
. She covered the case from the start and turned it into a book. The shooting occurred a few hours after the Mike Tyson
-Bruce Seldon
match, which Tupac and his music producer, Suge Knight
, were in Las Vegas
to attend. Tupac died from his injuries six days later. The killer has never been caught, although it's widely believed that Crips
gang member Orlando Anderson
, who was murdered 18 months later, was the shooter. Compton, California
, police interviewed Anderson, but he was never charged.
Six months after the murder, "Unsolved Mysteries
" covered the case, following Scott through a reenactment of the crime scene. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
declined to be at the studio to field calls and participate when the show aired, saying the publicity would not help their investigation.
launched an investigation into how the autopsy
photo was released to the author. The investigation, which Scott has reported she did not participate in, ended 30 days later with no results. MTV News reported the week of the book's release that it "includes a grisly autopsy photo that should end all speculation as to whether the late rapper might still be alive," alluding to rumors that the star rapper and actor
had faked his own death. Two years after the murder, Los Angeles Magazine featured a story by writer Heidi Seigmund Cuda focusing on rumors about Tupac "still living large" and described the autopsy photo as a "gruesome shot."
As much as $100,000 was offered for the photo by tabloids. Scott has not revealed her source.
, about Notorious B.I.G., who was murdered six months later as a possible result of a bitter feud between Tupac and Biggie, onetime friends, in what has been called the East Coast – West Coast hip hop rivalry.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and author Cathy Scott
Cathy Scott
Cathy Scott is an American true crime writer and investigative journalist, born and raised in San Diego, United States growing up in nearby La Mesa, California...
, of the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
. The book made news upon its September 1997 release, on the first anniversary of Shakur's death, because of an autopsy photo included in its pages. It was the first book to be released after the rapper's death. The book was reprinted in the UK by Plexus Publishing. Coverage of the autopsy photo, taken of Shakur's body on a gurney in the coroner's examining room, catapulted the book onto the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
bestseller
Bestseller
A bestseller is a book that is identified as extremely popular by its inclusion on lists of currently top selling titles that are based on publishing industry and book trade figures and published by newspapers, magazines, or bookstore chains. Some lists are broken down into classifications and...
list.
History
Cathy Scott was employed as a reporter at the Las Vegas SunLas Vegas Sun
The Las Vegas Sun is a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper. It is one of Las Vegas, Nevada's two daily newspapers. It is owned by the Greenspun family and is affiliated with Greenspun Media Group....
when Tupac was gunned down on September 7, 1996, in a drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
. She covered the case from the start and turned it into a book. The shooting occurred a few hours after the Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
-Bruce Seldon
Bruce Seldon
Bruce Samuel Seldon is a retired American boxer and former world champion, having won the World Boxing Association heavyweight title in 1995.-Amateur career:...
match, which Tupac and his music producer, Suge Knight
Suge Knight
Marion "Suge" Knight, Jr. is the founder and CEO of Black Kapital Records and co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records. Death Row Records rose to dominate the rap charts after Dr. Dre's breakthrough album The Chronic in 1992. After several years of chart successes for artists including...
, were in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
to attend. Tupac died from his injuries six days later. The killer has never been caught, although it's widely believed that Crips
Crips
The Crips are a primarily, but not exclusively, African American gang. They were founded in Los Angeles, California, in 1969 mainly by Raymond Washington and Stanley Williams...
gang member Orlando Anderson
Orlando Anderson
Orlando Tive "Baby Lane" Anderson was an alleged affiliate of the South Side Compton Crips and was a person of interest in the brief investigation of the murder of acclaimed American rapper Tupac Shakur by Compton and Las Vegas police...
, who was murdered 18 months later, was the shooter. Compton, California
Compton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
, police interviewed Anderson, but he was never charged.
Six months after the murder, "Unsolved Mysteries
Unsolved Mysteries
Unsolved Mysteries is an American television program, hosted by Robert Stack, from 1987 until 2002, and later by Dennis Farina, starting in 2008...
" covered the case, following Scott through a reenactment of the crime scene. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is a joint city-county police force for the City of Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada. It is run by the Sheriff of Clark County, elected every four years. The current Sheriff of Clark County is Douglas C...
declined to be at the studio to field calls and participate when the show aired, saying the publicity would not help their investigation.
Autopsy photo
Upon the book's release, the internal affairs bureau with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police DepartmentLas Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is a joint city-county police force for the City of Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada. It is run by the Sheriff of Clark County, elected every four years. The current Sheriff of Clark County is Douglas C...
launched an investigation into how the autopsy
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
photo was released to the author. The investigation, which Scott has reported she did not participate in, ended 30 days later with no results. MTV News reported the week of the book's release that it "includes a grisly autopsy photo that should end all speculation as to whether the late rapper might still be alive," alluding to rumors that the star rapper and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
had faked his own death. Two years after the murder, Los Angeles Magazine featured a story by writer Heidi Seigmund Cuda focusing on rumors about Tupac "still living large" and described the autopsy photo as a "gruesome shot."
As much as $100,000 was offered for the photo by tabloids. Scott has not revealed her source.
East Coast-West Coast rap war
A second updated edition of The Killing of Tupac Shakur was released in September 2002, which includes a chapter about rapper Biggie Smalls' death. Scott also wrote The Murder of Biggie SmallsThe Murder of Biggie Smalls
The Murder of Biggie Smalls is a non-fiction true crime book by author and journalist Cathy Scott. Published in October 2000 by St. Martin's Press, it covers the March 9, 1997, murder in a drive-by shooting of the late rapper Christopher Wallace The Murder of Biggie Smalls is a non-fiction true...
, about Notorious B.I.G., who was murdered six months later as a possible result of a bitter feud between Tupac and Biggie, onetime friends, in what has been called the East Coast – West Coast hip hop rivalry.