On March 9, 1997, in Los Angeles’ Miracle Mile neighborhood, a drive-by shooting occurred just a few meters from the Petersen Automotive Museum, claiming the life of rapper, the Notorious B.I.G., who sustained four gunshot wounds.
After an emergency surgery at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the budding rap star succumbed to his injuries. He was declared dead at 1:15 a.m.
Immediately following the shooting, the authorities began to investigate the murder and soon, reports started to emerge that the rapper’s murder was the result of the highly publicized East Coast-West Coast hip-hop feud. However, the police couldn’t find any substantial evidence to back up that claim.
Notorious B.I.G. cause of death, explored
On March 9, 1997, at 12:30 a.m., the Notorious B.I.G., along with his entourage, went for an after-party in Hollywood Hills. The rapper’s car stopped at a red light at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and South Fairfax Avenue. A few minutes later, a dark-colored 1994–1996 Chevrolet Impala SS pulled up beside the rapper’s Suburban. The Impala’s driver was a black male, who lowered his window, displayed a 9 mm pistol, and shot the rapper four times.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center surgeons conducted emergency surgery on the rapper but pronounced him dead at 1:15 a.m. He was 24 years old at the time of his death.
The investigation extended for years, with numerous rumors about the Notorious B.I.G.’s death, yet authorities couldn’t identify his killer. In 2006, his mother, widow, and two children filed a $400 million lawsuit for wrongful death against the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). They alleged that corrupt officers were responsible for the rapper’s death. Nonetheless, the court dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice in 2010.
In December 2012, the authorities publicly released the Notorious B.I.G.’s autopsy report, fifteen years after his death. The report indicated that three out of the four bullet shots were non-fatal. But, the fourth bullet proved fatal, as it struck several vital organs, including his colon, liver, heart, and the upper lobe of his left lung, before coming to a stop in his shoulder area.
To date, the case remains officially unsolved, despite the discovery of substantial evidence.