March 22, 1997

Shakur witnesses no help to LV police investigation

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Two men who said they may be able to identify suspects in the killing of rap star Tupac Shakur have met with police, but didn't offer any information that could advance the case, police said.

Las Vegas police Sgt. Kevin Manning said Friday that detectives met with bodyguard Frank Alexander and rapper Malcolm Greenridge, both of Southern California, this week.

Alexander viewed a mug folder of suspect photos at an Orange County restaurant, but could not identify the shooter, Manning said. Greenridge told police at the Compton police station that he never saw the shooter and did not wish to view the photos, Manning said.

"They were not able to add any information that would enhance the investigation," he said.

Shakur was shot near the Las Vegas Strip on Sept. 7. He died six days later in a Las Vegas hospital. No suspects have been arrested.

Earlier, Greenridge and Alexander, who were members of Shakur's entourage, told the Los Angeles Times they might be able to identify suspects, but that Las Vegas detectives never requested follow-up interviews with them.

Police countered, saying those close to Shakur have not cooperated with the investigation, and that Greenridge and Alexander said they saw nothing when they were interviewed immediately after the shooting.

"What is amazing is one of them gave the exact same story as he gave us that night, that he didn't see anybody," said Manning's supervisor, Lt. Wayne Petersen. "When we met with him, he (Greenridge) said, 'Why show me any pictures? I didn't see anybody.' "

Both men said earlier they would cooperate if contacted by police, and that they came forward because they were tired of hearing Las Vegas police say an arrest hadn't been made because witnesses weren't cooperating.

"It certainly doesn't make it (the investigation) any easier," Petersen said in reference to the pair's inability to identify suspects.