LAPD apologizes to Notorious B.I.G.'s family

Notorious B.I.G. clutches his awards at the podium during the annual Billboard Music Awards in New York, Dec. 6, 1995. / AP

LOS ANGELES The Los Angeles Police Department said its detectives have apologized to the family of Notorious B.I.G. for failing to warn them that it planned to release his long-sealed autopsy report.

The department said in a statement Saturday that detectives had intended to notify the rapper's family, but the report was released prematurely "due to an administrative error."

• Long-sealed Notorious B.I.G. autopsy released

The Los Angeles Times reports detectives released the 15-year-old report last week in hopes of getting new tips in the unsolved murder. The report revealed that injuries cause by a single bullet killed the rapper during a drive-by shooting in March 1997.

The attorney for the rapper's family complained Friday that he was not given any notice that the report would be released and criticized police for not closing the high-profile case.

[grb66]

It's just music people. Why is it everything black has to turn political?

He was a great rapper, I don't think he was trying to reform the welfare system.

Either you like his music or you don't end of story.

[judymar14]

He was shot! What's the big deal about the autopsy report being released? It wasn't and isn't needed to show his cause of death. All a-do about nothing. Will the family now be suing the LAPD for distress?

[6543mike]

Where is it written that the family has to be notified before an autopsy report is released???? And....who cares about some fat black guy named big?