An essay by Pat for you.
Today, September 7th, 2004, marks the 8 year anniversary of the night that rapper, actor, poet, and political activist Tupac Shakur was aimed for assassination. Just after 11 PM, on September 7th, 1996, Tupac and the CEO of his record company (Death Row Records), Suge Knight, were on their way to a Las Vegas club after watching Mike Tyson win a fight at the MGM Grand. Thirteen gunshots rang out at East Flamingo Road, just miles from the club. Tupac was hit twice, with one bullet hitting his leg and ricocheting to the right side of his chest. Six days later, on September 13th, 1996, Tupac was pronounced dead at 4:03 PM in the Las Vegas University Medical Center.
Let's picture this. We're in Las Vegas. It's the night of a Tyson fight. There are celebrities everywhere. Security is at its' maximum. We have a rap superstar gunned down just miles away from the Las Vegas strip, but we let a car with shooters get away. Tupac's own entourage claims to have followed the late-model Cadillac with the assailants, but "lose it."
Eight years later, I write this to you on September 7th, 2004 with still no murderer (s) in custody, no witnesses left alive, and no more potential suspects still breathing.
With the "alive theories" put to rest, people still question the way the LVPD handled the case that night. They left the crime scene unsecured and all potential evidence was ruined. They refused to listen to witnesses. There wasn't even a helicopter chase attempt in finding the assailants.
With all hopes of a suspect ever being caught dismantled, all Tupac fans can enjoy is the numerous things that will forever be here. His unreleased music and poetry continues to come out, he continues to be an icon to all performers and musicians, and his school, Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts, continues growing each day.
One day, when we're all gone, we'll really see Tupac--we'll see him for the way he wanted us to see him: Vibrant, extraordinary, hard working, and overlooked.
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