
Tupac's Final Plea: 'Kill Me,' Suge Knight Alleges
American rapper Tupac Shakur's photograph for a driving license in the U.S. State of California, c. 1996. Photo courtesy of the State of California DMV. Public domain.
Tupac Shakur's murder has haunted hip-hop for nearly 30 years. But a new series of explosive claims from Suge Knight — speaking from prison — are reshaping what we thought we knew about that tragic night in Las Vegas.
The Night Tupac Was Shot
On Sept. 7, 1996, Suge Knight, then the CEO of Death Row Records, was driving Tupac down East Flamingo Road in Las Vegas after a Mike Tyson fight when a white Cadillac pulled up beside them and opened fire.
Tupac, just 25, was shot four times. Knight was grazed by shrapnel.
In July 2024, Las Vegas prosecutors alleged that Duane "Keefe D" Davis coordinated the attack from the front passenger seat while fellow gang member Deandre "Big Dre" Smith opened fire from the backseat.
Davis was charged in 2023 with orchestrating the hit and pled not guilty. He is still in custody while awaiting trial, now scheduled for February 2026.
Suge Knight's Shocking New Allegations
Now serving 28 years at California's Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, Knight recently gave a detailed interview to PEOPLE. In it, he described Tupac as conscious, even joking with him in the ambulance, asking for Hennessy and "two blunts."
But Knight says that once Tupac realized the severity of his injuries — and the likelihood he'd return to prison for his role in a casino brawl earlier that night — he allegedly made a chilling request, according to Hip Hop DX, "Kill me. Shoot me."
According to Knight, Tupac floated the idea of filming a will and recording a song explaining his decision before asking his longtime friend to end his life.
Knight refused. "No, Pac. We can't do it," he recalled telling him, according to PEOPLE.
Did Afeni Shakur Help Her Son Die?
As Tupac's condition worsened, Knight says the rapper asked his mother, Afeni Shakur, to help him die.
Knight claims she allegedly gave him pills in an effort to honor her son's wishes. When doctors later revived Tupac during a medical emergency, Knight says Afeni allegedly told them, "Don't ever do that again. If he's having complications, don't touch him. Don't bring him back. Let him go," according to Billboard.
Afeni passed away in 2016. The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation has not issued a statement in response to Knight's allegations.
The Cremation That Sparked Rumors
Knight also claimed that Tupac never wanted to be cremated. According to him, Tupac had envisioned a public funeral with fellow rappers speaking and paying tribute — mirroring lyrics from his song "Life Goes On."
But Afeni allegedly demanded that the cremation be done immediately. Knight said he paid someone $1 million in cash to carry it out.
That night, a small circle of friends allegedly gathered to honor the late rapper in their own way — some reportedly rolled Tupac's ashes into a blunt and smoked them. Knight, who was on probation at the time, says he abstained.
Revisiting Diddy's Alleged Involvement
Knight didn't stop at Tupac's final wishes. He also doubled down on past claims that Sean "Diddy" Combs was allegedly involved in ordering the hit.
According to a 2009 police interview revealed in recent court filings, Davis told investigators that Diddy once said he "needed to get rid of Knight and Shakur" and allegedly offered $1 million to "handle the problem," according to PEOPLE.
Combs denies any involvement in the Tupac shooting, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has gone on record that he is not, and has never been, a suspect in that crime.
What Happens Next?
Davis' legal team is arguing that new witnesses can place him in Los Angeles — not Las Vegas — at the time of the murder. They also point to an alleged immunity deal that Davis says was in place when he first confessed to police. A judge ruled that no such agreement exists.
Meanwhile, Knight is still trying to make peace with what happened that night. For a generation of fans — and for Knight himself — that night still casts a long shadow.
References: Suge Knight Reveals Bombshell New Claims About Tupac's 1996 Death — Including Alleged Connections of Rapper's Mother and Diddy | Suge Knight Recalls Afeni Shakur's Final Message to Doctors Treating 2Pac After 1996 Shooting: 'Let Him Go' | 2Pac Allegedly Wanted Suge Knight To Kill Him After Shooting | Suge Knight Alleges From Prison That Tupac Shakur's Mom 'Gave Him Pills' to Help Him Die the Night He Was Shot