Christopher Wallace, commonly known as Notorious B.I.G. and Biggie Smalls, was shot to death in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1997. Pictured: The lead flower car for the funeral procession of rapper Wallace leaves the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel in Manhattan, New York, N.Y., on March 18, 1997, after services. File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI | License Photo

Christopher Wallace, commonly known as Notorious B.I.G. and Biggie Smalls, was shot to death in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1997. Pictured: Fans and mourners of rapper Wallace outside of the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel in Manhattan, New York, N.Y., on March 18, 1997, during memorial services. File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI | License Photo

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Russell Poole, the retired Los Angeles police officer who publicly contended the LAPD was involved in the death of rapper Biggie Smalls, died suddenly from a suspected heart attack Wednesday.

Poole was discussing a cold case murder investigation with Los Angeles County Homicide Bureau sheriff's deputies when he collapsed. The deputies performed CPR and Poole was rushed to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, reported the Los Angeles Times.


Poole was known as an aggressive and outspoken police investigator, according to NBC News. He worked on the murder case of renowned rapper Christopher Wallace, commonly known as Biggie Smalls or Notorious B.I.G. and less commonly known as Big Poppa, for about a year.

Wallace was shot to death while sitting in a car at a red light on March 9, 1997, following an event at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

Wallace's killing has not been solved, spawning countless conspiracy theories. One theory states that Wallace's death was connected to the shooting death of rapper Tupac Shakur six months prior, as the rappers and their respective record companies were seen as rivals in what became known as the East Coast-West Coast rap feud.

Poole alleged that a corrupt LAPD was involved in Wallace's death. He theorized the police department as coordinating with Marion "Suge" Knight, who was head of Shakur's company when Shakur was killed.

Poole suggested Wallace's killing was carried out as retaliation.

Knight is awaiting a possible murder trial in a separate incident after he was charged with murder and attempted murder for allegedly running two men down with a car following an argument.

Shakur's killing also remains unsolved.

Poole resigned from the police department in 1999 after a series of disputes over the direction of multiple investigations, including the murder of Wallace.