Notorious B.I.G. Gruesome Death Details Revealed in Autopsy Report

Newly released documents detail how the rapper was gunned down 15 years ago

By Natalie Finn Dec 08, 2012 3:02 AMTags
Notorious B.I.GJane Caine/ZUMA Press

Fifteen years later, the murder of Notorious B.I.G. remains unsolved—but more questions have just been answered.

The Los Angeles County Department of Coroner has released the 23-page autopsy report detailing how the platinum-selling rapper died when he was gunned down outside the Peterson Automotive Museum on Wilshire Boulevard at about 12:30 a.m. on March 9, 1997.

Biggie, whose real name was Christopher Wallace, suffered nonfatal gunshot wounds to the left forearm, back and upper left thigh, while the bullet that killed him tore through his right hip and perforated his colon, liver, heart and left lung, according to the report obtained by E! News.

He was pronounced dead at  Cedars-Sinai Medical Center at 1:15 a.m. after attempts at resuscitation failed.

Investigators determined that the bullets that pierced Wallace's body had first gone through the door of the SUV in whose passender seat he was sitting. Where the medical form asks, "How did injury occur?" it reads, "Shot by assailant(s)."

Deputy medical examiner Dr. Lisa Scheinin noted that they were unable to determine the sequence in which the bullets hit him.

The report notes Wallace's identifying marks, such as a tattoo of Psalm 27 in its entirety on his right forearm and several old surgery scars.

The 24-year-old rapper, who didn't come by his nickname by accident, was also described, at 395 pounds, as morbidly obese.

His toxocology screen came back negative for alcohol and drugs, including cocaine, hallucinogens, morphine and methamphetamines.