It's been 27 years since the death of rapper Tupac Shakur, who was shot multiple times in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996, while leaving a boxing match at the MGM Grand hotel on the Las Vegas Strip and died six days later. CNN covered the historic incident along with fellow rapper Notorious B.I.G' s death six months later in 1997.
Here's a look back at CNN coverage surrounding Shakur's death:
- The incident: A day after his death, on September 14, 1996, CNN reported that Shakur was the target of a Las, Vegas shooting. CNN'S Jim Hill at the time said details around the incident were "sketchy," as Shakur's entourage were not forthcoming as witnesses. It was reported that Shakur's death occurred after his right lung was removed before investigators could talk with him, thus hindering the investigation. At the time, police investigated "possible gang links" in relation to the murder and were "looking into the business dealings of the rap music world" that included the infamous rivalry between East and West Coast rappers.
- The response: In the days following Shakur's death, CNN also covered the cultural response to the fatal shooting in a September 24, 1996, story. CNN's Mark Scheerer said Shakur's murder "resulted in a rash of soul searching and teeth gnashing over violence in rap culture." He reported that the Nation of Islam organized a "Hip-Hop Day of Atonement" at the time and that there was a protest held outside a radio station in an attempt to pressure the station to stop playing "hard-core rap" music before midnight airtime.
- Analysis: Notorious B.I.G died March 9, 1997. A day later, CNN released an article analyzing the conflict between East and West Coast rappers at the time. CNN's Michael Okwu detailed previous clashes and similarities between Shakur and the New York native rapper before both of their deaths. The article also addressed the climate of the time and how little was known about hip-hop culture, with it calling Notorious B.I.G "a one-time thug to some, an icon to others" as well as the focus on their criminal records as their similarities.
- Developments: And today, CNN covered the major development of an arrest made in Shakur's death investigation. Las Vegas police confirmed Duane Keith Davis, aka “Keffe D,” was arrested Friday for the murder. Davis is the only living suspect related to the investigation of rapper Tupac Shakur's murder, according to authorities. Officials said Davis will appear in court in the next days for a hearing to determine his custody status and set a jury trial date.
