It’s been 15 years since the Notorious B.I.G. was slain in a drive-by shooting on March 9, 1997 in Los Angeles. While his homicide remains unsolved, there has been plenty of speculations as to who may have wanted to murder the late rapper.

Complex was able to talk with retired L.A.P.D. detective Greg Kading who was assigned to investigate B.I.G.’s murder case between 2006 and 2009. He also wrote a book about Biggie and Tupac Shakur‘s homicides titled ‘Murder Rap: The Untold Story of the Biggie Smalls & Tupac Shakur Investigations.’ In the Complex interview, Kading claims that Wardell “Poochie” Fouse was paid $13,000 to assassinate the New York rapper.

“At the time, he was a 36-year old member of the Mob Piru Bloods. According to several Death Row insiders and FBI informants, Poochie was a down-for-the-cause, hardcore gang member,” Kading explains. “Confidential sources from the Death Row entourage, the Mob Pirus, and [Suge’s girlfriend, identified in Kading's book by the alias 'Theresa Swann'], said Poochie had done shootings for Suge in the past. Reggie Wright Jr. — who was the head of Death Row security — said Suge and Poochie’s relationship was different than other members of the gang. They had a very secretive and exclusive relationship.”

He continues, “Poochie lay in wait outside the Petersen Automotive Museum. As soon as he became aware of where Biggie was sitting in his car, he drove up and he shot him.”

When Kading was asked if the muder case would ever get solved, he gave a very grim answer.

“It comes down to how you define solved. Both law enforcement agencies — the Las Vegas Police Department and the L.A.P.D. — have drawn the conclusions that Tupac was killed by Orlando Anderson and Biggie Smalls was killed by Wardell ‘Poochie’ Fouse,” he says. “Those are the facts within law enforcement. They’re considered solved internally, but the public’s definition of solved is different. They haven’t gone through the judicial process and nobody has been prosecuted.

He furthers adds, “Both shooters are dead. Orlando Anderson was killed outside a Compton record shop in May 1998. Poochie died in July 2003 as a result of multiple gunshot wounds. He was shot in the back while riding his motorcycle in Compton. He was supposedly killed as a result of in-fighting between the Mob Pirus — Suge’s Blood associates — and another Blood gang known as the Fruit Town Pirus.”

“That’s all the justice that these cases will see. The co-conspirators are never going to be prosecuted. Unfortunately, the cases are so complicated and convoluted. These will never see criminal prosecution.”

So, if we are to believed Kading, Biggie’s family and friends will never get closure in this 15-year murder mystery.

On March 25, Biggie’s final album, ‘Life After Death,’ will also reach its 15-year anniversary milestone. Thankfully, through his music, Notorious B.I.G. will always be remembered as one of the most influential rappers in hip-hop.

May Biggie rest in eternal peace.

More From 107-3 KISS-FM