The tragic death of Tupac Shakur on September 13, 1996, remains one of the most haunting and enduring mysteries in music history. For decades, countless conspiracy theories and hypotheses have emerged, yet the veil surrounding the true culprits has never been fully lifted. Recently, several pieces of footage, claimed to be from the night Tupac was killed, have been leaked online, causing a massive stir within the community. These clips, including alleged recordings of the shooting from a side street and a helicopter circling the area afterward, have gone viral, sparking hope for new clues. But are these images authentic evidence, or are they a sophisticated reenactment designed to mislead the public? This article will delve into the alleged “final” footage of Tupac, exposing the inconsistencies and questioning the truth behind them.

Deconstructing the “Shooting” Footage

In 2017, a video was uploaded to YouTube, claiming to be footage of the last four shots fired from a white Cadillac into the BMW carrying Tupac and Suge Knight on September 7, 1996. The footage quickly garnered attention but contained several glaring inconsistencies.

First and most crucial is the absence of K-Dub’s car. K-Dub, a member of the Compton Mob Bloods, had cut in front of Suge Knight’s BMW, creating a boxed-in situation moments before the shooting. Suge Knight himself referred to K-Dub in the documentary “American Dream/American Nightmare” as someone who “done something which he knew not to do,” by cutting in front of them. The fact that K-Dub’s car is missing from the “leaked” footage significantly undermines its authenticity.

Secondly, the white car seen next to the BMW in the footage has been speculated to be one of two vehicles: either a convertible with four female Tupac fans or another car entirely. However, the footage shows no convertible. EDI Mean, a member of Tupac’s group, and Suge Knight both claimed that the girls had already left before the shooter’s Cadillac pulled up. Furthermore, Suge Knight claimed the car in that lane was part of his Blood Entourage, containing Trayvon Lane and Bantry, who told him to move over right before the shooting.

Another major inconsistency is the absence of the large plume of smoke that Tupac’s bodyguard, Frank Alexander, reported seeing after the shots were fired. Frank Alexander and K-Dub both stated that the BMW remained stationary for a moment after the shooting, giving them time to approach the car, while the footage shows both cars speeding off immediately. The “leaked” video also fails to show the white car chasing after the Cadillac and firing at it, which Bantry and the convertible girls were involved in during the real incident.

Given these contradictions, the footage is most likely fake. It’s probably a behind-the-scenes video that has been intentionally downgraded to make it appear like a grainy, real recording.

The “Helicopter” Footage and Conspiracy Theories

Another piece of footage claims to be from the night of the incident, showing a helicopter circling the scene. This video allegedly features the “Flight for Life” helicopter that witnesses claimed was brought in for Tupac. A witness named Paige Hemis claimed in an interview and on Twitter that she saw Tupac being taken away in the helicopter.

However, this claim has been debunked by both Suge Knight and Frank Alexander, who were on the scene when Tupac was taken into an ambulance and rushed to the hospital. The “Tupac is alive” conspiracy theory often uses this helicopter information, along with the music video for “I Wonder If Heaven’s Got a Ghetto,” which shows him being taken for treatment by a helicopter to “Raucus, New Mexico” (Shakur spelled backward), to claim that Tupac faked his death. While the footage of a helicopter in Vegas may be real, it could be from any time and place, not necessarily the night of the shooting.

Authentic Footage and the Final Hours

The video also presents a chronological look at the real, documented footage from Tupac’s final days, providing crucial context for the events of that night.

September 6, 1996: Tupac recorded a song for Mike Tyson’s upcoming fight in Vegas. He also filmed the music video for “Toss It Up,” where he broke a mirror, symbolizing seven years of bad luck.
September 7, 1996: Tupac left LA at 10 a.m. for the drive to Las Vegas. He was seen in casinos with his bodyguard Frank Alexander.
MGM Grand CCTV: CCTV footage from the MGM Grand shows Orlando Anderson, a South Side Compton Crip, walking through the casino. Later, footage captured Tupac and his entourage jumping Anderson in the lobby after the Mike Tyson fight. This beating is widely believed to be the motive for the shooting later that night.
The Final Photograph: The last photo of Tupac was taken around 11 p.m. as he and Suge Knight were getting ready to leave for Club 662. The shooting then took place at 11:15 p.m.
Aftermath: News footage captured the aftermath of the shooting, showing the bullet-riddled BMW. Hospital footage from outside and a private photo taken of Tupac on his deathbed were also covered by the media before his death was announced on September 13, 1996.

Key Theories on the Unsolved Murder

The video briefly highlights the main theories behind Tupac’s murder:

The South Side Compton Crips Theory: This theory, supported by LAPD cop Greg Kading’s investigation, claims that Crips members, including Orlando Anderson, were in a white Cadillac and found Tupac and Suge Knight after the beatdown. Keith D, in a confession, stated that Anderson was the shooter.
The Rampart Theory: Suge Knight and others believe corrupt cops, aligned with the LAPD’s Rampart Division and potentially the CIA, were involved. This theory links the same cops to Biggie’s murder, suggesting a cover-up.
The Snoop Dogg’s Cousin Theory: A confession letter given to Fox News’ Chris Blachford claimed that Snoop Dogg’s cousin, Lil’ Half Dead, was the shooter. This theory is also supported by the fact that Lil’ Half Dead released an album cover with imagery that seemed to reference the shooting.

In conclusion, the alleged “final footage” of Tupac’s shooting, while a captivating story, is full of inconsistencies that reveal it to be fake. The absence of key details, such as K-Dub’s car and a large cloud of smoke, proves it’s likely a reenactment. While the footage may not be real, the documented events surrounding Tupac’s final hours, including the authentic CCTV and news clips, remain a powerful and tragic reminder of one of hip-hop’s greatest mysteries.