News of October 24, 2003
Investigators Examine New Lead in Randy "Stretch" Walker Case
According to AllHipHop, a Jam Master Jay suspect also came under scrutiny in the case of Tupac's former associate Stretch.
The death of Randy “Stretch” Walker remained unsolved in 2003 as well. On October 24, AllHipHop reported, citing unnamed sources, that authorities were investigating whether a man with a criminal record was connected to the fatal shooting of Walker in Queens. The same man was suspected of being involved in the murder of Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay: according to witnesses, he had entered the studio unmasked with the shooter and acted as a lookout. At that point, no one had been charged in either case.
Tupac’s Former Associate
Stretch was part of the original lineup of Thug Life. He left the group for unexplained reasons before Tupac released Thug Life Volume 1 on Interscope with a new lineup. Walker was present in 1994 when Tupac was shot at a New York studio and robbed of jewelry valued at 40,000 dollars. Exactly one year to the day later, he himself was shot and killed.
An Act of Revenge?
An informant from the neighborhood cited by AllHipHop described the crime as retaliation for an earlier assault involving an assault rifle. Walker reportedly had more success with his tours than others in the area, but always returned and made enemies there. This account is not substantiated. More on the robbery: Shooting 1994.