Mutulu Shakur Dies at 72

He had only a few months left in freedom: On July 6, 2023, Tupac Shakur’s stepfather Mutulu Shakur died at the age of 72. The following day, his family announced on Instagram that he had died at home surrounded by family. Mutulu suffered from bone marrow cancer. In May 2022, a Bureau of Prisons doctor had given him less than six months; in November 2022, he was released early for health reasons. He spent his final months in Southern California.

More Than 36 Years in Prison After the Brink’s Robbery

Before that, he had spent more than 36 years in prison. He was convicted for his role in a 1981 robbery of a Brink’s armored truck in New York State, in which a guard and two police officers died. Vibe describes him as a member of the New Afrikan movement and the Black Liberation Army; supporters viewed him as a political prisoner. His story and his relationship with Tupac are described on the page Dr. Mutulu Shakur.