What killed Assata Shakur? Black Liberation icon, FBI fugitive, and Tupac’s godmother who died in Cuba exile

Assata Shakur, the once-fugitive Black Liberation Army member who lived in exile in Cuba for more than four decades, has died in Havana at the age of 78.

Born JoAnne Deborah Byron in New York City in July 1947, Shakur—later known as Joanne Chesimard—rose to prominence in the turbulent 1960s and 70s as a member of the Black Panther Party and later the more militant Black Liberation Army. Her activism made her both a symbol of resistance to racial injustice and a target of one of the most aggressive FBI crackdowns on Black radical movements in American history.

Her life took a dramatic turn in 1973 when a New Jersey traffic stop escalated into a gunfight, leaving state trooper Werner Foerster and activist Zayd Malik Shakur dead. Assata Shakur was seriously wounded and later convicted of murder, despite maintaining that she had not fired the fatal shots and arguing her trial before an all-white jury was unjust. Sentenced to life in prison, she escaped in 1979 and disappeared underground.

By 1984, Shakur resurfaced in Cuba, where Fidel Castro granted her political asylum. For the next four decades she lived in Havana, writing books, giving interviews, and steadfastly defending her innocence. Her presence on the island remained a point of contention in U.S.–Cuba relations, with Washington repeatedly demanding her extradition. In 2013, the FBI placed her on its Most Wanted Terrorists list—the first woman ever to be included—and doubled the reward for her capture to $2 million.

Shakur’s influence extended beyond politics into popular culture. She was celebrated in hip-hop, mentioned in songs by Public Enemy and Common, and revered by activists who viewed her as a symbol of resistance against oppression. She was also the step-aunt and godmother of the late rapper Tupac Shakur, a connection that helped cement her name in cultural memory.

Cuba’s Foreign Ministry confirmed her death on Thursday, attributing it to health complications linked to her advanced age. Her daughter, Kakuya Shakur, expressed her grief in a Facebook post, saying words could not capture the depth of her loss.

Revered by some as a revolutionary heroine and reviled by others as a convicted cop killer, Assata Shakur remained one of the most polarizing figures of the civil rights era. Her death closes a controversial chapter in the long history of U.S. struggles over race, justice, and political dissent.

FAQ Section

Who was Assata Shakur?
Assata Shakur, born JoAnne Deborah Byron in 1947, was a Black Liberation Army activist and former Black Panther. She became one of the most controversial figures of the civil rights era due to her conviction in the killing of a New Jersey state trooper.

Why was Assata Shakur wanted by the FBI?
She was convicted in 1977 for the murder of State Trooper Werner Foerster during a 1973 shootout in New Jersey. After escaping prison in 1979, she fled to Cuba, where she lived in exile. In 2013, she became the first woman on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list.

How did Assata Shakur escape prison?
In 1979, while serving a life sentence in New Jersey, Shakur escaped with the help of armed associates. She lived underground before appearing in Cuba in 1984, where Fidel Castro granted her political asylum.

What was Assata Shakur’s connection to Tupac Shakur?
Assata Shakur was Tupac Shakur’s step-aunt and godmother. Their family connection and shared themes of resistance linked her legacy to the late rapper’s cultural influence.

How did Assata Shakur die?
Cuban authorities announced that she died on September 25, 2025, in Havana due to health complications related to her advanced age.

Why was Assata Shakur controversial?
To some, she was a revolutionary who fought against racial injustice and government repression. To others, she was a convicted fugitive responsible for the murder of a state trooper. Her case fueled debates over justice, race, and political violence in America.