S. Samuel
The unsolved murder case of the late Notorious B.I.G. has reached a stalemate as Los Angeles police officials now admit all possible leads have been followed through.
Despite new investigative documents from B.I.G.’s 1997 murder emerging online this week, LAPD claim the case still lacks a strong lead.
LAPD Capt. Kevin McClure, head of the department’s Robbery Homicide Division, said Wednesday that theLAPD’s investigation into the killing of the rapper, whose real name was Christopher Wallace, remains open, but that detectives have exhausted the leads they were pursuing. “We have followed up on all of the leads we have at this time to the best of our ability. If anything new comes along we will certainly look at it,” he said. (Los Angles Times)
Earlier this week, FBI documents revealed discreet details on what bullets were used in the ’97 fatal shooting.
Now, finally, the FBI has released its (heavily redacted) documents on the murder, and several facts were revealed–one being that the bullets that killed him were rare Gecko 9mm ammunition, made only in Germany and sold Stateside only in California and New Jersey. Officials hoped they could link the bullets to other crimes to find the murderer, but none was discovered. They were also hoping to link Biggie’s killing to Tupac Shakur’s six months earlier–and did find individuals who were present at both scenes. (Entertainment Weekly)
A listing of personal belongings were also unveiled in the leaked FBI documents.
On Friday, the FBI unveiled its overhauled reading room, which they have re-christened “The Vault.” Along with a spiffy new document reader and a search option, the bureau has uploaded dozens of new files, material that has previously been processed in response to Freedom of Information Act requests. While the Wallace file provides little news, it does offer one hip-hop curio, the Los Angeles Police Department property report itemizing the Wallace belongings catalogued post-homicide. As seen in this excerpt, evidence gathered by investigators included pot in a plastic baggy; bloodstained Karl Kani jeans (size 48); a pair of size 13 Timberlands; a Bernini sweater (size 54); and a Primatene Mist asthma inhaler. And, of course, “3 condoms” that an LAPD official reported were “Magnum” and “Larger Size.” (The Smoking Gun)
A few months ago, the murder case received a new lead.
Eight years later in 2005, a civil trial brought by the Wallace family against the city of Los Angeles exposed evidence hidden by the LAPD that suggests two rogue police officers David Mack and Rafael Perez may have been involved in the murder of the rapper also known as “Biggie Smalls”. According to a newly-revealed court record, Perez’s cellmate told investigators “Perez and Mack were involved in Death Row Records. Perez got involved in Death Row through Mack..” “Perez was working security. Perez had a cell phone. Perez said he called over to Mack, David Mack on his cell phone. Perez told Mack that Biggie Smalls was in his truck. Perez never said that he set up Biggie Smalls but I have heard that he…had something to do with that murder,” according to the inmate. (CBS News)
