Joanne Chesimard, famously known as Assata Shakur and a prominent member of the Black Liberation Army, has died in Cuba. This announcement was made through a press release on Friday.
Back in 1977, a jury found Chesimard guilty of first-degree murder for the killing of New Jersey state trooper Werner Foerster. At the time, she was just 29 years old and received a life sentence in prison. According to reports from The New York Times, Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared details of her passing, citing her advancing age and health issues.
The official statement declared, “On September 25, 2025, American citizen Joanne Deborah Byron, known as ‘Assata Shakur,’ died in Havana due to health conditions and advanced age.”
The New York Times disclosed that on May 2, 1973, Chesimard was involved in a shootout on New Jersey’s Turnpike. Trooper James Harper pulled over a Pontiac with bad taillights and wanted back-up. Tragically, Foerster was shot during this incident. Chesimard was a passenger in that vehicle alongside driver Clark Squire and her former brother-in-law James Costan.
Reports from the FBI indicated that Chesimard was sought for her participation in various serious crimes, including bank robbery. During her 1973 trial, she controversially proclaimed herself “ashamed” of even participating, claiming the jury was biased.
By 1979, Chesimard had managed a daring escape from the Clinton Correctional Facility for Women in New Jersey. This act allegedly involved two men who smuggled themselves into the prison to help her flee, as detailed by CBS News. After her escape, she initially traveled to Mexico. In 1984, she reached Cuba, where the Castro regime offered her asylum.
2013 marked a significant moment when the FBI placed Chesimard on its most wanted list, even releasing a flyer that featured multiple photographs of her and announced a reward of up to $1 million for anybody with tips leading to her capture.
Living under the protection from extradition in Cuba, Chesimard authored her autobiography in 1987 and took on teaching roles at various Cuban universities, as covered by CBS News.
