Conversation so far:
What did Sam Cooke do after he retired from the music industry?
On December 11, 1964, at the age of 33, Sam Cooke was shot and killed by Bertha Franklin, the manager of the Hacienda Motel in Los Angeles, California.
Did Sam Cooke run into hardship later in life?
On December 11, 1964, at the age of 33, Sam Cooke was shot and killed by Bertha Franklin, the manager of the Hacienda Motel in Los Angeles, California.

Question: Was Cooke assassinated?
Self-contained rewrite: Was Sam Cooke assassinated?