From behind prison walls, Suge Knight, the infamous co-founder of Death Row Records, has made startling new claims regarding the 1996 murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur. In an exclusive interview, Knight has not only pointed fingers at Shakur’s own mother, but also reignited long-standing allegations concerning Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Knight’s controversial assertions include the claim that Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, assisted in her son’s death and that close friends later smoked his cremated ashes. These bombshells come amidst the ongoing legal proceedings against Duane “Keefe D” Davis, who has been charged with Shakur’s murder. Past police interviews with Davis, as detailed in court filings, allege that Diddy was involved in orchestrating the hit on both Shakur and Knight, offering $1 million to “handle the problem.” Diddy has consistently denied any involvement, and Las Vegas police have stated he was never a suspect.
Recalling the fateful night, Knight described driving Tupac in a BMW when a Cadillac pulled alongside them, and shots rang out, hitting Tupac four times. Knight also provided a harrowing account of Tupac’s final hours, including an alleged request from Tupac to be killed, and a plea to his mother, Afeni, to “let him go,” with Knight claiming she allegedly gave him pills. Following Tupac’s death, Knight asserts that Afeni insisted on immediate cremation, despite Tupac’s alleged wishes for a different send-off.
The 2023 arrest of Duane “Keefe D” Davis by Las Vegas police marked a significant breakthrough in the cold case. Prosecutors allege Davis orchestrated the assassination. Court documents from a 2009 police interview with Davis reportedly detail his own role and repeatedly name Sean “Diddy” Combs as the one who ordered the assassination. Knight further recounted a 2007 encounter with Combs at the Roosevelt Hotel, an meeting purportedly set up by Prince, where Knight claims he confronted Combs about the shooting.
These new claims from Suge Knight are poised to add further complexity and controversy to one of hip-hop’s most enduring mysteries.