The online version of the Los Angeles Times released a controversial headline article today which resurrects the belief that Sean “Diddy” Combs was behind a 1994 assassination attempt on Tupac Shakur.

According to the Times, FBI records quote a confidential informant back in 2002 who said associates of Combs, including talent manager James “Jimmy Henchman” Rosemond and promoter James Sabatino, “set up the rapper Tupac Shakur to get shot at Quad Studios.”

The informant also said Sabatino had told him Shakur “had to be dealt with.”

Sabatino is now in prison for unrelated crimes.

The article goes on to say:

According to this information, Rosemond and Sabatino, infuriated by what they saw as Shakur’s insolent behavior, enticed him to the Quad by offering him $7,000 to provide a vocal track for a rap recording.

Three assailants — reputedly friends of Rosemond — were lying in wait. They were on orders to beat Shakur but not kill him and to make the incident look like a robbery, the sources said. They were told they could keep whatever jewelry or other valuables they could steal from Shakur and his entourage.

A member of Shakur’s posse cooperated with the rapper’s enemies, relaying their offer of a $7,000 payment and keeping them informed of his whereabouts on the night of the assault, according to the informant and the other sources.

Later today, Combs released the following official statement:

“This story is beyond ridiculous and is completely false. Neither Biggie nor I had any knowledge of any attack before, during, or after it happened. It is a complete lie to suggest that there was any involvement by Biggie or myself. I am shocked that the Los Angeles Times would be so irresponsible as to publish such a baseless and completely untrue story.”

As reported over 5 years ago, the LA Times also accused Notorious B.I.G. of later killing Shakur.