P. Diddy may have been real target in Notorious B.I.G. shooting, leaked FBI files reveal
RAP superstar P. Diddy may have been the original target in the Notorious B.I.G shooting, leaked FBI documents reveal.
The rapper - also known as Biggie Smalls - was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles in 1997 - but the murder has never been solved.
Now Sun Online has obtained the FBI investigation file into Biggie's murder - and a possible cover up by LAPD.
In the bombshell file, two witnesses tell FBI investigators that they believe P. Diddy - also known as Sean “Puffy” Combs - was the original target for the organised hit.
P. Diddy, now 49, also tells officers how he received death threats prior to the shooting, the files reveal.
One witness - Biggie’s bodyguard Eugene Deal - describes how a man he believed to be the killer approached P. Diddy’s car shortly before the shooting.
Deal - also know as Big Gene - was forced to pull his gun out to force the man - who he believes was a member of the controversial Nation of Islam group - to back away.
The FBI statement explains how Biggie and Diddy were waiting for their cars to come around outside the Peterson Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, where the rappers had been enjoying an after-awards party when Deal noticed the “unknown male”.
“Deal noticed an unknown black Male (UM) wearing a blue suit, white shirt, blue tie, receding hairline with hair cropped close, approach where Combs car had just arrived," one document reads.
“Deal stated this male looked to be a member of the Nation of Islam.
“While Combs and others took pictures and mingled with the crowd, Deal Intercepted the UM as he tried to approach Combs’ car.
“Deal pulled his gun out of his waistband and showed it to the UM as to be telling him to back away.
“Once this UM saw Deal’s gun he walked away from Combs car heading eastbound on Fairfax Boulevard and got into a car that was parked on the corner exactly where Biggie was shot and, according to Deal, was most likely the car that committed the shooting.”
Deal, a New York State Parole officer who worked as Biggie’s security guard when he was off-duty, then told how P.Diddy’s car set off and he told driver Ken Story to run the red light - which was standard security procedure to ensure the passengers would not become “sitting targets”.
Diddy’s car ran the red light, but Biggie’s car - driven by Greg Young, who didn’t work in security - stopped at the red light for about one minute, according to the documents.
“The shooter hesitated for quite a while before shooting into Biggie’s car," the document says.
“Because of this, Deal strongly believes Biggie was not the intended target, but that Combs was.
“Because Combs' car ran the light, this is why Deal believes the shooter hesitated and probably realised Biggie was now in the spot that Combs was supposed to be if he hadn’t run the light.”
It also points out how both Diddy and Biggie’s cars were dark green SUVs and both rappers were sitting in the front passenger seats.
In a separate document, another witness James Lloyd - also know as "Lil Ceas" - a friend of Biggie’s who often went on the road with him, told the FBI he also believed “Puffy” was the intended target “because somebody could have easily taken out Biggie earlier if they wanted to.”
“Lloyd stated that he, Biggie and others often time went to the movies, walked the mall or just around town to get something to eat, never encountering any problems," the document says.
“He added that everybody knew Biggie was in Los Angeles and if someone wanted him killed, they easily could have done it any time they wanted to… during their entire stay in Los Angeles, Lloyd stated Biggie did not have any bodyguards or security with him, just his friends."
The FBI file, given to Sun Online by TV and movie producer Don Sikorski who has spent months researching the case, also provides compelling evidence that Biggie’s murder was orchestrated and covered by crooked LAPD cops.
The file was created by FBI agent Philip Carson, the former head of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, who has now retired.
Carson claims he had enough evidence 15 years ago to file charges against two crooked LAPD officers over the murder of Biggie, whose real name is Christopher Wallace.
But his bosses at the time shut down his investigation due to pressure from the LAPD, Carson says.
Carson told Sikorski, , that the documents could rock the foundations of LA’s law enforcement, in a tape shared with Sun Online.
In Diddy's witness statement to the FBI, he states how he had received death threats while in New York before coming to Los Angeles in March 1997, but felt LAPD did not do enough to protect him and Biggie.
"Prior to going to Los Angeles in March of 1997 when Biggie was killed, Combs had received death threats while in New York but figured LAPD would provide security at the after awards party at the Peterson Automotive Museum because lots of rappers would be there and also it was taking place right near Rodeo Drive so he figured there would be LAPD everywhere.
"He then added he couldn't believe that no police officers were anywhere to be found around the museum after Biggie was shot."
P. Diddy goes on to say how after seeing Biggie shot to death he was sure that "whoever shot Biggie was a real clean and professional shooter".
The rapper immediately locked himself in his room the following day "to grieve" and security had to "kick down the door" to get to him.
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"Combs was taken to San Diego as a precautionary measure and flew out immediately back to New York," the statement reads.
"Biggie was his best friend and Combs stated he was devastated for a long time."
Sun Online has reached out to LAPD for comment.