Joanne Chesimard, better known as Assata Shakur, has died in Havana, Cuba, marking the end of a decades-long manhunt that stirred political and diplomatic tensions.
According to Fox News, the Black Liberation Army member and convicted cop killer had evaded U.S. justice since her 1979 prison escape, living under asylum in Cuba until her death on September 25 at age 78.
Shakur had been living in exile in Cuba since the 1980s, where she was granted political asylum by the island’s communist government. The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed her death, stating that it was due to health complications associated with her advanced age. Born JoAnne Deborah Byron, Shakur rose to national notoriety after being involved in a deadly shootout in 1973 on the New Jersey Turnpike. The violent confrontation led to the death of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster, for which Shakur was later convicted of first-degree murder in 1977, along with other serious charges, including armed robbery.
Shakur's Escape and Asylum Caused International Fury
Two years into her life sentence, Shakur escaped from a New Jersey prison in 1979. She eventually resurfaced five years later in Cuba, where authorities offered her refuge. This move ignited U.S. government outrage and prompted longstanding demands for her extradition.
By 2013, the FBI classified Shakur as a domestic terrorist and added her to its Most Wanted Terrorists List. A joint bounty of $2 million—$1 million each from the FBI and the New Jersey attorney general—was placed on her return. However, Havana continually refused extradition, citing political reasons.
Shakur had close ties to the Black Liberation Army, which federal investigators labeled as one of the most extreme militant groups of the 1970s. Her connections to notable cultural figures, including her role as the godmother and step-aunt of late rapper Tupac Shakur, further cemented her controversial public identity.
Officials Express Frustration Over Lack of Justice
Following her passing, multiple U.S. officials expressed disappointment that Shakur was never forced to serve the full extent of her sentence. In a joint statement, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan said, "For years, we have worked with the State Department to bring Chesimard back to New Jersey."
"Sadly, it appears she has passed without being held fully accountable for her heinous crimes," they added. In the same message, they pledged to oppose any effort to return her remains to U.S. soil, underscoring the unresolved pain of Trooper Foerster’s family and law enforcement community. Gov. Murphy and Col. Callahan also remarked on the grief that continues to be felt by the Foerster family, stating that while his killer lived out her days in Cuba, the trooper was denied the chance to grow old.
U.S. Lawmakers and Officials Condemn Cuban Government
The U.S. State Department confirmed that Cuban authorities had informed their embassy in Havana of Shakur’s death. A department spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the regime's protection of fugitives like Shakur has long obstructed justice.
"We regret that the Cuban dictatorship for decades protected this fugitive," the spokesperson said. They went on to urge the Cuban government to return other U.S. fugitives still residing on the island. Senator Marco Rubio, who has frequently criticized U.S.-Cuba relations, restated his position earlier this year, saying the Cuban regime continues to act as a "haven" for American criminals. Rubio was not alone in his criticism; President Donald Trump called upon Cuba in 2017 to return Shakur and other wanted individuals to face legal consequences in the United States.
A Polarizing Symbol of Activism and Violence
Although Shakur was seen by many in law enforcement as a terrorist and convicted killer, others viewed her as a revolutionary figure. Organizations like Black Lives Matter have previously shown support for her, praising Cuba's role in protecting what they referred to as "Black revolutionaries."
In 2019, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal publicly described Shakur as "a domestic terrorist and nothing more," capturing the viewpoint held by many within the U.S. justice system. That assessment remained consistent through the years, despite the shifting public discourse around race, policing, and activism. A 1987 photograph taken in Havana shows Shakur holding the manuscript of her autobiography, highlighting how she used her time in exile to document her version of the events and share her ideological beliefs with a broader audience.
Legacy of a Fugitive Comes to a Controversial Close
While her supporters heralded her as a symbol of resistance against systemic oppression, her critics remained focused on the life she took and the justice system she escaped. The conflicting narratives surrounding her life are expected to endure well beyond her death.
Her passing also reopens discussions on U.S. relations with Cuba, particularly regarding the status of other American fugitives believed to be residing there. Pressure is likely to increase on Washington and Havana as debates over law, justice, and political asylum continue to evolve. With her death, one chapter of a four-decade legal and diplomatic saga ends. However, the complex legacy of Assata Shakur—marked by conviction, escape, exile, and ideological symbolism—will remain a contentious part of American history.
