Notorious B.I.G. Death: How Many Times Was He Shot
Twenty-four is far too young to become a legend, but that is exactly what happened to The Notorious B.I.G. on March 9, 1997, when a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles ended his life (CNN’s reporting on the coroner’s findings). The number of bullets and the path of the fatal shot are documented; the minutes before he died and the identity of the shooter are not.
Born: May 21, 1972 · Died: March 9, 1997 · Cause of death: Drive-by shooting · Number of shots: 4 · Age at death: 24 · Studio albums: 2 (Ready to Die, Life After Death)
Quick snapshot
- Biggie was shot four times on March 9, 1997 (CNN’s coroner-report coverage). (Los Angeles Times’ autopsy reporting)
- Only one of the four bullets was fatal (Los Angeles Times’ autopsy reporting).
- The murder has never been solved (ABC News’ review of FBI records).
- Biggie’s exact last words are not in the public record (ABC News’ FBI-file review).
- Who ordered the shooting remains unknown (ABC News’ case summary).
- Whether he cried at Tupac’s funeral is anecdotal.
- Tupac was shot on September 7, 1996, and died on September 13 (ABC News’ FBI-file review).
- Biggie was killed less than six months later (CNN’s timeline coverage).
- The FBI closed its Biggie investigation in 2005 (ABC News).
- No public charges have been filed in Biggie’s murder (ABC News).
- The case remains officially unsolved (ABC News).
- Renewed attention depends on new evidence or testimony.
Eight facts, one pattern: the paper trail on Biggie’s life and death is solid, while the criminal chain behind it is not.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Christopher George Latore Wallace |
| Stage names | The Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls |
| Born | May 21, 1972 |
| Died | March 9, 1997 |
| Cause of death | Drive-by shooting |
| Number of shots | 4 |
| Age at death | 24 |
| Studio albums | 2 (Ready to Die, Life After Death) |
How many times was Biggie shot?
Christopher Wallace was shot four times on March 9, 1997, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s report cited by CNN’s coverage of the coroner’s findings. Only one of the four bullets was fatal, but that bullet entered his right hip and damaged his colon, liver, heart, and part of his lung (Los Angeles Times’ autopsy reporting). The other three wounds were to his left forearm, back, and left thigh (CNN).
- The sequence in which the shots landed was never determined (Los Angeles Times’ LA Now report).
- Wallace arrived at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in full cardiac arrest (CNN).
The four-shot count gives the story a clean headline, but the coroner’s silence on order leaves a factual gap that conspiracy theories fill. A documented wound path is not the same as a reconstructed crime scene.
The implication: the “how many” question is settled, while the “how did it unfold” question is not.
What were Biggie’s last words?
Biggie’s final words were never documented. The coroner’s report describes injuries, not statements, and the FBI-file summary reviewed by ABC News contains no verified last-words account.
Two rumors circulate most often. One claims he said “I’m on my way to the hospital”; another claims “I can’t breathe.” Neither is backed by the medical or law-enforcement record.
Deathbed phrases are among the least reliable pieces of oral history. Without a recording or a statement in the autopsy file, any “last words” attributed to Biggie should be treated as a rumor, not a fact.
What this means: the absence of a verified final statement is itself the answer.
What happened to Biggie?
Biggie spent his final hours at a music-industry event connected with the Soul Train Music Awards at the Petersen Automotive Museum. He was seated in the front passenger seat of a Chevrolet Suburban when a dark Chevrolet SS Impala pulled up beside it and opened fire, according to ABC News’ review of FBI records.
He was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and arrived in full cardiac arrest. He was pronounced dead shortly after 1 a.m. (CNN).
- Location: after an industry event near the Petersen Automotive Museum (FBI records via ABC News).
- Position: front passenger seat of a Chevrolet Suburban (FBI records via ABC News).
- Investigation: the FBI closed its case in 2005 (ABC News’ FBI-file reporting).
This was not a random street shooting. The timeline places it in the final minutes of an industry night, which is one reason the case drew so much scrutiny.
The pattern: the documented record explains how Biggie died, while the absence of an identified shooter explains why the case remains open.
Why did Tupac blame Biggie?
The feud between Biggie and Tupac Shakur became the backdrop to both murders. Tupac publicly accused Biggie of being involved in the November 1994 shooting at Quad Studios in New York, and he repeated that accusation during the height of the East Coast–West Coast rivalry.
The word “belief” matters here. No investigation cited by CNN, the Los Angeles Times, or ABC News’ FBI records coverage has established that Biggie was involved in the Quad Studios attack.
Tupac’s accusation turned a personal grudge into a coast-against-coast story. That narrative helped sell records, but it also made an already tangled case harder to investigate.
Why this matters: the blame was real enough to shape two murders, but it was never backed by evidence strong enough to close either case.
Did Biggie cry when 2Pac died?
Some eyewitness accounts said Biggie cried at Tupac’s funeral. Other friends from his circle denied that he showed outward emotion. No document in the coroner’s report, the FBI file, or the cited news coverage settles the question.
A human moment like this becomes a test of which version of the feud someone believes. The same absence of evidence that protects Biggie’s privacy also guarantees the debate will never end.
The pattern: when a fact cannot be verified, the story defaults to whoever tells it most convincingly.
Timeline: From the feud to the unsolved case
Seven dates, one pattern: the two shootings bookend a six-month stretch, but the legal system never produced a conviction in either case.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Christopher Wallace is born in Brooklyn, New York. | |
| Biggie releases his debut album Ready to Die. | |
| Tupac is shot at Quad Studios and later blames Biggie. | |
| Tupac is shot in Las Vegas (FBI records via ABC News). | |
| Tupac dies from his injuries. | |
| Biggie is shot and killed in Los Angeles (CNN). | |
| The posthumous album Life After Death is released. |
The pattern: the rivalry did not begin with a single song or insult; it became a feedback loop that ended with two funerals and no convictions.
Confirmed facts vs. lingering rumors
The investigation is old enough that some things are settled, and others are permanently open.
Confirmed facts
- Biggie was shot four times on March 9, 1997 (CNN).
- Only one bullet was fatal, and it entered his right hip (Los Angeles Times).
- He died at Cedars-Sinai shortly after 1 a.m. (CNN).
- The FBI closed its investigation in 2005 (ABC News).
What’s unclear
- Biggie’s exact last words.
- Whether he cried at Tupac’s funeral.
- Who ordered the shooting.
- The sequence in which the four bullets struck him (Los Angeles Times).
The distinction matters: verified facts carry citations, while the lingering rumors survive because no primary document settles them.
Quotes from the record
The most reliable “quotes” in this case come from documents, not deathbed recollections.
“The autopsy reported four gunshot wounds.”
Los Angeles County coroner’s report, as cited by CNN
“Only one of the four bullets was fatal.”
Los Angeles Times, based on the unsealed autopsy
“The FBI investigation into Wallace’s murder was closed in 2005.”
ABC News, reporting on FBI records
What this means: the documents are the closest thing to a neutral witness in a case full of accusations.
The consequence of leaving two murders unsolved is that the story belongs to whoever tells it loudest. The coroner’s count and the FBI’s decision to close the case are the fixed points in a narrative that keeps drifting toward legend. For new listeners, the practical takeaway is clear: verify the wound path and the date, and treat every emotional detail as unconfirmed until a primary document appears.
Frequently asked questions
What was Biggie’s real name?
Christopher George Latore Wallace. He also performed as Biggie Smalls and The Notorious B.I.G.
How old was Biggie when he died?
He was 24 years old. He was born on May 21, 1972, and died on March 9, 1997.
Who murdered Notorious B.I.G.?
No one has been charged. The FBI investigation was closed in 2005, and the case remains officially unsolved (ABC News).
What albums did Biggie release?
He released Ready to Die in 1994 and the posthumous Life After Death in 1997.
Who was with Biggie when he was shot?
He was in the front passenger seat of a Chevrolet Suburban when the shooter opened fire, according to FBI records (ABC News).
Related reading
- Robert Palmer’s death, net worth, and music video legacy
- Angus Cloud: cause of death, Euphoria role, and legacy
The pattern holds across these profiles: sudden celebrity deaths generate the same split between documented medical fact and unresolved speculation.
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