The Los Angeles Police Department made a move out of left field at the weekend by releasing rapper Notorious B.I.G’s autopsy report, 15 years after the fact. According to Lt. Andrew Neiman, detectives released the report to “stimulate new interest in the case and hopefully produce new leads.” What they forgot to do, was to let the rapper’s family know before allowing the rest of the world to read the previously-sealed report. As a result, the Wallace family, by way of attorney Perry Sanders Jr., have hit back, demanding new information on the actual homicide investigation.

The report itself is hardly groundbreaking, just confirming all the physical details everyone already knows about the cause of Biggie’s death. The coroner confirms he was killed by one of four bullets and that his body contained no traces of drugs or alcohol.

“What legitimate lead could be stimulated by releasing an autopsy that says ‘Mr. Wallace was shot,’  when everyone knows that? Why don’t they release some of the clues they have?” Sanders Jr said.

Capt. Billy Hayes, head of the LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division, said the detectives personally apologised to the Wallace family following the premature release of the long-sealed autopsy report.

Obviously what the family (and everyone else) want to know is who actually shot B.I.G. But after 15 years and no arrests, I guess that would be asking too much. Despite the lack of new facts, the release is sure to generate a lot of renewed conversation around one of the highest profile unsolved murders in music history.

And if you’re after some light reading, you can check out the actual report here.