The family of the late Tupac Shakur is wading into the murky waters of his murder once again in trying to find some possible links connected with Sean “Diddy” Combs. This, nearly three decades later, after the tragic death of Tupac in 1996-a case that has been wrapped under several folds of mystery and speculations.
Leading the new investigation will be renowned attorney Alex Spiro, known never to back down from a good fight. His involvement signals the family’s commitment to getting answers, especially as recent court documents have reignited old suspicions against Diddy.
These documents reference claims made by Duane “Keefe D” Davis, a key suspect in the murder who has insinuated in past interviews that Diddy played a role in orchestrating the infamous 1996 hit on Tupac and Death Row Records’ co-founder, Suge Knight.
The investigation follows renewed scrutiny of the events surrounding Tupac’s life and death. A tenacious crime scene investigator by the name of Sheryl McCollum has been loud about her beliefs that the ties between Tupac and Diddy have always been lurking in the shadows. According to McCollum, it all started back in 1994 when five shots were fired at Tupac outside a recording studio in Manhattan.
“You ain’t gotta shoot somebody five times to take their jewelry and their money,” she said during an interview with NewsNation’s “Banfield.”
Even more bothersome, Diddy and an entire entourage were also in the same studio that night Tupac got shot. McCollum questioned how Diddy and his group could emerge unscathed while Tupac suffered such a violent attack. She said, “When they start shooting at him… Combs and his entourage of 40? Unharmed. Unthreatened. How does that make sense to anybody?”
Diddy has always denied any implication in Tupac’s death and has labeled the accusations “ridiculous and totally false.” But renewed interest in the claims has revisited one of the most infamous hip-hop rivalries of the 1990s. Tension between Tupac and Diddy, close to The Notorious B.I.G., created conspiracy theories that have been propagated for years.
It’s not only an investigation of the present but also of the past. Even Tupac himself had appeared to implicate Diddy in a shooting incident that occurred at Quad Studios back in 1994. That puts into context these suspicions by the family now. The hip-hop world has long been rife with speculation, and figures as prominent as 50 Cent have gone so far as to say that Diddy should “lawyer up” in light of the renewed scrutiny.
The same case has also garnered the idea from former detective Greg Kading, who had worked on the case, regarding the involvement of Diddy with the chain of events which finally led to the murder of Tupac. His vision helped piece together this picture of Diddy being involved in the tragic events that unfolded on that fateful night in Las Vegas.
For Tupac’s family, this is a very personal investigation: not only are they trying to find the answers, but also closure. The pain of the loss of Tupac-a cultural icon, a voice of so many-continues to reverberate today. Powerful lyrics and stirring performances continue to inspire fans worldwide. The family fosters a hope that by digging deeper into these allegations, they can honor Tupac’s legacy and perhaps find some semblance of justice.
While the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has said that Diddy has never been considered a suspect, that hasn’t assuaged the fears from Tupac’s family. McCollom-a private investigator hired by Tupac’s mother to investigate his murder-points out what she says is one huge connection that can’t be ignored: both times Tupac was shot, he was trapped-once in an elevator and later in a car. “There is literally nowhere to run,” she said.
As the investigation unfolds, sources close to Diddy say he is feeling the heat. “He’s gotten increasingly concerned about his safety, especially in light of the allegations and their possible legal or public repercussions,” describe insiders about how he has grown since the incident. The hip-hop world is watching, and the stakes are high.
Many fans and the artists themselves are reminiscing about the legacies of Tupac and Biggie, two of the brightest stars ever to shine within this genre, and whose tragic losses somehow seemed to take a little more of the light out of it. It is hoped that this investigation will bring clarity not only for Tupac’s murder but also help foster healing within a culture that has indeed suffered far too much loss.
