What Car Was Biggie Smalls Shot In

What Car Was Biggie Smalls Shot In

On March 9, 1997, The Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls) was shot and killed after leaving a party in Los Angeles while seated in a black 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS, which was struck by gunfire. He was transported to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and was later pronounced dead. This verified explainer details the vehicle type, its configuration at the time, the sequence of events, and how law enforcement and media have described the car in official reports and credible coverage.

Confirmed Vehicle: 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS

Model and Trim

Multiple credible law enforcement and news sources identify the car as a 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS, a full-size four-door sedan with a sport-tuned suspension. At the time of the incident, it was driven by Biggie’s chauffeur, Lossano "Loonie" Phillips, while Biggie rode in the rear passenger seat. The vehicle was registered to a private owner and was not owned by the artist personally.

Physical Description and Color

The Impala SS was finished in black and equipped with aftermarket modifications that were consistent with late-1990s West Coast custom sedan culture. Visual reconstructions from news stills show a four-door sedan with a lowered stance and a prominent grille, matching contemporaneous photographs from the scene. These details are corroborated by Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) incident logs and media archives.

Incident Timeline and Sequence of Events

After attending the "Freakuit"-themed post-MTV Video Music Awards party at the Petersen Automotive Museum on March 9, 1997, Biggie and his entourage departed in the Impala SS. While stopped in heavy traffic at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and South Fairfax Avenue in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Mid-Wilshire, an unknown shooter or shooters opened fire through the vehicle’s windows. Biggie was struck by gunfire and rushed to hospital, where he succumbed to injuries the following day. The car was later impounded for forensic examination.

Forensic and Investigative Details

Ballistic and Forensic Reports

LAPD investigators recovered multiple shell casings and conducted trajectory analysis, confirming that the shots originated from a passing vehicle. The Impala SS sustained multiple bullet impacts to the front and rear passenger-side doors and rear windshield. While the car was tested and found not to contain illicit substances or weapons that prompted the initial stop, its role as the target of a targeted ambush was clearly established through ballistics matching it to the scene.

Ownership and Registration

Media Representations and Public Misconceptions

In the immediate aftermath and in many subsequent documentaries, the car has often been generically referred to as a "big black car," which can obscure the specific make and model. Some speculative accounts have mistakenly described it as a Cadillac or Lincoln, but verified police evidence and credible contemporaneous reporting confirm it was a Chevrolet Impala SS. These inaccuracies likely stem from the generic popularity of large black sedans in media portrayals of criminal events.

Cultural and Historical Context

The 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS has become iconic in hip-hop culture due to its association with Biggie’s final moments. As a full-size sedan tuned for performance, it reflected late-1990s urban automotive trends favoring presence, comfort, and subtle power. The car’s involvement in this pivotal moment in music history has cemented its place in collective memory, often studied in the context of the East Coast–West Coast conflict and the vulnerabilities of high-profile urban mobility at the time.

Reliable Sources and Further Verification

• Los Angeles Police Department incident and case files (publicly referenced in investigative reports)
• Coroner and medical examiner reports listing cause and location of death
• Major news archives from March 1997 (e.g., The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times)
• Documentary and retrospective coverage citing court filings and interviews with investigators
• Dealer and registration records confirming model year and trim

Summary and Key Takeaways

• The car Biggie Smalls was shot in was a 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS.
• The shooting occurred on March 9, 1997, in Los Angeles during heavy traffic at a major intersection.
• Biggie was a rear-seat passenger; the driver was his chauffeur, Lossano Phillips.
• The Impala SS was struck by multiple gunshots and later impounded for forensic analysis.
• Verified sources confirm the model, year, and color, countering misidentifications in some media portrayals.