What happened to Tupac Shakur? Conspiracy theory explained
TUPAC Shakur was shot dead in 1996 but conspiracy theories believing the rapper is somehow alive still circulate to this day.
More than two decades after his death, we take a look at those theories that refuse to go away.
Who was Tupac?
Lesane Parish Crooks was born on June 16, 1971, the son of a former Black Panther activist Afeni Shakur.
He was better known to his fans as Tupac or 2Pac.
Hailing from Harlem, New York City, the rap star's All Eyez On Me and his Greatest Hits are among the best-selling albums in the US.
The artist, who has sold more than 75million records, consistently tops the polls as one of the greatest of all time.
He became embroiled in the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop feud, involving New York's Bad Boy Records and the Los Angeles-based Death Row Records.
How did Tupac die?
On the night of September 7, 1996, Tupac was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas as he headed to a gig at Club 662.
Death Row Records boss Suge Knight was driving the car where Tupac was a front-seat passenger.
A shooter in a white Cadillac, which pulled up on the right-hand passenger side of Tupac's BMW at traffic lights, opened fire at 11:15 pm.
The star was hit four times - in the chest, arm, and thigh.
More on Tupac
Hours earlier, Tupac, 25, and his entourage had watched boxer Mike Tyson fight Bruce Seldon at the MGM Grand casino.
In the lobby afterward, Tupac and his crew - some of whom were associated with the LA gang The Bloods - reportedly attacked Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson after Pac threw the first punch.
Tupac died of his wounds on Friday, September 13, 1996.
Who killed Tupac?
Tupac's killer is still unknown.
A big suspect in the case was gang member Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson, who died in 1998.
On Tuesday, July 18, 2023, cops confirmed a home in Las Vegas was searched in connection to the death of Tupac Shakur.
Officials stated to local CBS affiliate KLAS that the investigation occurred on Monday, July 17, as they continue to seek answers in the rapper's shooting death.
Then, in September 2023, the Las Vegas police arrested Duane Keith Davis, also known as Keefe D.
He's reportedly one of the four people who were inside the vehicle that chased after Tupac on the night he died.
He was charged with one count of first-degree murder but pleaded not guilty.
In January 2024, a Nevada judge set his bail at $750,000 and was allowed house arrest.
What are the Tupac conspiracy theories?
Many fans have theorized over the years that Tupac is still alive.
There are several conspiracy theories that he faked his death and has since been hiding out in Cuba with his aunt.
One variant of this is that he faked his autopsy photo and report.
Rumors have surfaced from a man claiming to have spotted Tupac in Somalia alongside well-known friend and founder of Outlawz hip-hop group, Yaki Kadafi, who died two months after Tupac.
The Sun reported on all of the alleged sightings of the late rapper since he died in 1996.
However, it's thought that an appearance at a protest in Wall Street, New York, in 2011 could be the most likely evidence that Tupac is still alive.
Another wild theory has claimed the cop who held Tupac after he was shot helped the rapper escape.