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First woman on FBI's Most Wanted list dead at 78 after fleeing to Cuba
Assata Shakur has died in Cuba at the age of 78, and was the first woman to have made it on FBI's Most Wanted list after she was found guilty of killing a New Jersey state trooper in 1973
The first woman to have made it on FBI's Most Wanted list has died at the age of 78, after fleeing to Cuba and seeking political asylum. Assata Shakur, formerly known as Joanne Chesimard, was found guilty of shooting a New Jersey state trooper in 1973.
According to Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Assata Shakur "died in Havana, Cuba, as a result of health conditions and her advanced age." She died on September 25, at around 1.15pm, according to her daughter who shared a post on Facebook.
Kakuya Shakur wrote: "At approximately 1:15 PM on September 25th, my mother, Assata Shakur, took her last earthly breath. Words cannot describe the depth of loss that I am feeling at this time.
"I want to thank you for your loving prayers that continue to anchor me in the strength that I need in this moment. My spirit is overflowing in unison with all of you who are grieving with me at this time."
Assata Shakur was born in New York on July 16, 1947. During her college days, she was actively involvement in the civil rights and anti-war movement.
Born Joanne Deborah Bryon, she later married fellow student activist Louis Chesimard before the two were divorced.
Shakur became involved with the Black Panther Party after moving to California, but left in 1971 and joined the Black Liberation Army.
In 1973, she was convicted of killing a New Jersey state trooper during a shootout but escaped jail in 1979 and fled to Cuba. She has always maintained her innocence, according to Substack newsletter What I'm Reading.
She also wrote to Pope John Paul II when he visited the country in 1998: "At this point, I think that it is important to make one thing very clear. I have advocated and I still advocate revolutionary changes in the structure and in the principles that govern the United States.
"I advocate self-determination for my people and for all oppressed inside the United States. I advocate an end to capitalist exploitation, the abolition of racist policies, the eradication of sexism, and the elimination of political repression. If that is a crime, then I am totally guilty."
Back in 2013, on the anniversary of the incident, the FBI offered a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to the capture of Assata Shakur. On top of that, New Jersey also offered an additional reward of up to $1 million, which brought the total maximum reward to $2 million.
At the time, FBI special agent Aaron Ford said: " Joanne Chesimard is a domestic terrorist who murdered a law enforcement officer execution-style.
"Today, on the anniversary of Trooper Werner Foerster’s death, we want the public to know that we will not rest until this fugitive is brought to justice."
Daily Star Sunday
Assata Shakur has died in Cuba at the age of 78, and was the first woman to have made it on FBI's Most Wanted list after she was found guilty of killing a New Jersey state trooper in 1973
The first woman to have made it on FBI's Most Wanted list has died at the age of 78, after fleeing to Cuba and seeking political asylum. Assata Shakur, formerly known as Joanne Chesimard, was found guilty of shooting a New Jersey state trooper in 1973.
According to Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Assata Shakur "died in Havana, Cuba, as a result of health conditions and her advanced age." She died on September 25, at around 1.15pm, according to her daughter who shared a post on Facebook.
Kakuya Shakur wrote: "At approximately 1:15 PM on September 25th, my mother, Assata Shakur, took her last earthly breath. Words cannot describe the depth of loss that I am feeling at this time.
"I want to thank you for your loving prayers that continue to anchor me in the strength that I need in this moment. My spirit is overflowing in unison with all of you who are grieving with me at this time."
Assata Shakur was born in New York on July 16, 1947. During her college days, she was actively involvement in the civil rights and anti-war movement.
Born Joanne Deborah Bryon, she later married fellow student activist Louis Chesimard before the two were divorced.
Shakur became involved with the Black Panther Party after moving to California, but left in 1971 and joined the Black Liberation Army.
In 1973, she was convicted of killing a New Jersey state trooper during a shootout but escaped jail in 1979 and fled to Cuba. She has always maintained her innocence, according to Substack newsletter What I'm Reading.
She also wrote to Pope John Paul II when he visited the country in 1998: "At this point, I think that it is important to make one thing very clear. I have advocated and I still advocate revolutionary changes in the structure and in the principles that govern the United States.
"I advocate self-determination for my people and for all oppressed inside the United States. I advocate an end to capitalist exploitation, the abolition of racist policies, the eradication of sexism, and the elimination of political repression. If that is a crime, then I am totally guilty."
Back in 2013, on the anniversary of the incident, the FBI offered a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to the capture of Assata Shakur. On top of that, New Jersey also offered an additional reward of up to $1 million, which brought the total maximum reward to $2 million.
At the time, FBI special agent Aaron Ford said: " Joanne Chesimard is a domestic terrorist who murdered a law enforcement officer execution-style.
"Today, on the anniversary of Trooper Werner Foerster’s death, we want the public to know that we will not rest until this fugitive is brought to justice."
Daily Star Sunday