Orlando Anderson
Encyclopedia
Orlando Tive "Baby Lane" Anderson (August 13, 1974 – May 29, 1998) was an alleged affiliate of the South Side Compton Crips
and was a person of interest in the brief investigation of the murder of acclaimed American
rapper Tupac Shakur
by Compton
and Las Vegas
police. Specifically Detective Tim Brennan of Compton filed an affidavit
naming him as a suspect though fans and others have speculated as to Anderson's involvement since the incident. He was never charged for the murder.
just three hours before Shakur's shooting. These events led to public speculation, but after two days of questioning Anderson in detention the Las Vegas homicide detective Lt. Larry Spinosa told the media, "At this point, Orlando Anderson is not a suspect in the shooting of Tupac Shakur.". Later in the investigation, Anderson was named a suspect Stories circulated on the street that Anderson had bragged about shooting the rapper, which he denied in an interview for VIBE
magazine later. Anderson was caught up in a round up of suspects in Compton almost a month after the shooting with 21 other alleged gang members. Anderson was detained and questioned, but not charged. However, the raid was only tangentially connected to the Tupac shooting as Compton police admitted they were investigating local shootings and not the shooting in Las Vegas. Though both jurisdictions investigated a possible connection between Anderson and the fateful shooting on the Las Vegas strip they were unable to link him directly to the crime, and no criminal charges were ever filed.
A year later Afeni Shakur
, Tupac's mother, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Anderson in response to a lawsuit Anderson filed against Suge Knight
, Tupac's estate and others in the Death Row
organization. Anderson's lawsuit was in regards to injuries resulting from the scuffle that evening in 1996 - Anderson claimed to have suffered both emotional and physical pain and that he was beaten badly during the altercation. Afeni Shakur's lawsuit was filed just four days after Anderson's lawsuit was filed. The Associated Press reported in 2000 that Shakur's estate and Anderson's estate settled the competing lawsuits hours before the death of Orlando Anderson. - though only his lawyer offered a dollar figure attached to the settlement which he claimed would have netted Anderson $78,000.
In the aforementioned VIBE interview with Sanyika Shakur
, (a.k.a. "Monster" Kody Scott), author of Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member, and in his first remarks to the media, Anderson professed to being a fan and an admirer of Tupac Shakur
and his music, even after the events. He said he was cleared by Las Vegas police after two days of questioning. The interviewer also remarked on the striking physical resemblance between Anderson and Shakur.
In October 2011, former LAPD
detective Greg Kading, who was once the lead investigator in the murder of Christopher "Biggie Smalls" Wallace
, came out with a book which alleges that Sean “Diddy” Combs
commissioned Duane Keith “Keffe D” Davis to take out Tupac Shakur
, along with Suge Knight
, for the impressive sum of one million dollars. Duane Keith “Keffe D” Davis is the uncle of Orlando Anderson and detective Kading claims that Orlando was present in the vehicle which pulled up next to the BMW
which Tupac was shot in.
, California
. They later died at Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital (formerly King/Drew Medical Center) in Los Angeles, California
. Michael Reed Dorrough was wounded at the time and later arrested in connection with the shooting. To date, no one has been charged with Anderson's murder.
Crips
The Crips are a primarily, but not exclusively, African American gang. They were founded in Los Angeles, California, in 1969 mainly by Raymond Washington and Stanley Williams...
and was a person of interest in the brief investigation of the murder of acclaimed American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rapper Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
by Compton
Compton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
and Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
police. Specifically Detective Tim Brennan of Compton filed an affidavit
Affidavit
An affidavit is a written sworn statement of fact voluntarily made by an affiant or deponent under an oath or affirmation administered by a person authorized to do so by law. Such statement is witnessed as to the authenticity of the affiant's signature by a taker of oaths, such as a notary public...
naming him as a suspect though fans and others have speculated as to Anderson's involvement since the incident. He was never charged for the murder.
Events surrounding the shooting of Tupac Shakur
On the night of September 7, 1996 Anderson and Shakur's entourage were involved in a scuffle at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las VegasLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
just three hours before Shakur's shooting. These events led to public speculation, but after two days of questioning Anderson in detention the Las Vegas homicide detective Lt. Larry Spinosa told the media, "At this point, Orlando Anderson is not a suspect in the shooting of Tupac Shakur.". Later in the investigation, Anderson was named a suspect Stories circulated on the street that Anderson had bragged about shooting the rapper, which he denied in an interview for VIBE
VIBE
Vibe is a music and entertainment magazine founded by producer Quincy Jones. The publication predominantly features R&B and hip-hop music artists, actors and other entertainers...
magazine later. Anderson was caught up in a round up of suspects in Compton almost a month after the shooting with 21 other alleged gang members. Anderson was detained and questioned, but not charged. However, the raid was only tangentially connected to the Tupac shooting as Compton police admitted they were investigating local shootings and not the shooting in Las Vegas. Though both jurisdictions investigated a possible connection between Anderson and the fateful shooting on the Las Vegas strip they were unable to link him directly to the crime, and no criminal charges were ever filed.
A year later Afeni Shakur
Afeni Shakur
Afeni Shakur Davis is an African American music businesswoman, philanthropist, former political activist and ex-Black Panther. She is the mother of the late Tupac Shakur...
, Tupac's mother, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Anderson in response to a lawsuit Anderson filed against Suge Knight
Suge Knight
Marion "Suge" Knight, Jr. is the founder and CEO of Black Kapital Records and co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records. Death Row Records rose to dominate the rap charts after Dr. Dre's breakthrough album The Chronic in 1992. After several years of chart successes for artists including...
, Tupac's estate and others in the Death Row
Death Row Records
Death Row Records is a record label founded in 1991 by Marion "Suge" Knight Jr., Andre Young , Tracy Lynn Curry and Michael Harris . It is known to have been home to many popular West Coast hip hop artists such as Dr...
organization. Anderson's lawsuit was in regards to injuries resulting from the scuffle that evening in 1996 - Anderson claimed to have suffered both emotional and physical pain and that he was beaten badly during the altercation. Afeni Shakur's lawsuit was filed just four days after Anderson's lawsuit was filed. The Associated Press reported in 2000 that Shakur's estate and Anderson's estate settled the competing lawsuits hours before the death of Orlando Anderson. - though only his lawyer offered a dollar figure attached to the settlement which he claimed would have netted Anderson $78,000.
In the aforementioned VIBE interview with Sanyika Shakur
Sanyika Shakur
Sanyika Shakur , also known by his former street moniker Monster, is a former member of the Los Angeles gang the Eight Tray Gangster Crips. He got his nickname as a 13-year-old gang member when he beat and stomped a robbery victim to death...
, (a.k.a. "Monster" Kody Scott), author of Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member, and in his first remarks to the media, Anderson professed to being a fan and an admirer of Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
and his music, even after the events. He said he was cleared by Las Vegas police after two days of questioning. The interviewer also remarked on the striking physical resemblance between Anderson and Shakur.
In October 2011, former LAPD
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
detective Greg Kading, who was once the lead investigator in the murder of Christopher "Biggie Smalls" Wallace
The Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
, came out with a book which alleges that Sean “Diddy” Combs
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
commissioned Duane Keith “Keffe D” Davis to take out Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
, along with Suge Knight
Suge Knight
Marion "Suge" Knight, Jr. is the founder and CEO of Black Kapital Records and co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records. Death Row Records rose to dominate the rap charts after Dr. Dre's breakthrough album The Chronic in 1992. After several years of chart successes for artists including...
, for the impressive sum of one million dollars. Duane Keith “Keffe D” Davis is the uncle of Orlando Anderson and detective Kading claims that Orlando was present in the vehicle which pulled up next to the BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
which Tupac was shot in.
Death
On May 29, 1998, Orlando Anderson and associates, Michael Stone and Jerry Stone were involved in a shootout outside of Cigs Record Store in ComptonCompton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. They later died at Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital (formerly King/Drew Medical Center) in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Michael Reed Dorrough was wounded at the time and later arrested in connection with the shooting. To date, no one has been charged with Anderson's murder.
External links
- Archives of News Stories in Regards to the Murder of Tupac and Anderson's Alleged Involvement
- Scott, CathyCathy ScottCathy Scott is an American true crime writer and investigative journalist, born and raised in San Diego, United States growing up in nearby La Mesa, California...
, The Killing of Tupac ShakurThe Killing of Tupac ShakurThe Killing of Tupac Shakur, a biographical and true-crime account, by journalist and author Cathy Scott, of the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur. The book made news upon its September 1997 release, on the first anniversary of Shakur's death, because of an autopsy photo included in its pages. It...
, Huntington Press: ISBN 978-0929712208 (paperback 2nd ed., 2002)