Video: 'The Killing Of Sam Cooke: Who Murdered Soul? (Murder Mystery Documentary) | Real Stories'

(Friday, December 11, 1964, 3:00 a.m. PST) — Singer-songwriter Sam Cooke, ranked 16th on Rolling Stone‘s list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time,” was fatally shot early today by Bertha Franklin, the manager of the Hacienda Motel at 9137 South Figueroa Street, in Los Angeles, California.

Franklin claimed Cooke, 33, had broken into her office residence and attacked her.

The LAPD at the time marked Cooke’s death a justifiable homicide. Friends and family of Cooke disputed this and the police investigation into the events of the murder have been heavily criticized for various reasons.