The Notorious B.I.G. + shooting death_Famous people who died too soon - Christopher George Wallace (1972-1997)—also known as "Notorious B.I.G."—was a rap musician who was murdered on March 9, 1997.

The hip-hop star was gunned down in Los Angeles at age 24 while riding in the passenger seat of a sport utility vehicle after a music industry party years ago.

Although no one has been convicted in the slaying, police have said in the past they believe he was killed because of rivalry in the rap industry.
The FBI opened a civil rights/color of law investigation into the murder; the case was closed in 2005.
The widow and the mother of the late rapper Notorious B.I.G. filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard Parks, two former L.A.P.D. chiefs, and the city of Los Angeles, among others.

The lawsuit -- filed by singer Faith Evans, the rapper's widow, and his mother, Voletta Wallace in federal court -- claims the police didn't do enough to prevent the murder of B.I.G. -- real name Christopher Wallace -- who was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles in 1997.

According to court documents, Evans and Wallace claim Parks stopped the investigation into the rapper's murder once it became apparent that one of his officers was involved. That officer, David Mack, who is currently serving a 14-year prison sentence for armed robbery, reportedly was the lead suspect in the case, which remains unsolved.

It's been speculated that Wallace was killed in retaliation for the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur, which also remains unsolved. No comment from the L.A.P.D.