Long-awaited trial begins in rapper Tupac Shakur's 1996 killing in Las Vegas
The trial of Duane 'Keffe D' Davis has begun in Las Vegas, where he is accused of orchestrating the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur. Prosecutors allege Davis planned the shooting as an act of gang-related revenge, while the defense maintains the narrative is fictional.
Why it matters
This trial addresses a decades-old cold case involving a major cultural icon, drawing significant public and media attention.
Who killed Tupac Shakur? The long-awaited trial of the man accused of orchestrating the 1996 killing of the rapper officially began Monday in a Las Vegas courtroom.
In opening statements, prosecutors said they intend to prove that former Los Angeles gang leader Duane "Keffe D" Davis ordered the shooting.
“Let’s be clear, Duane Davis did not pull the trigger. But he did plan the shooting in retaliation of the beating of his nephew,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal told jurors at the start of Davis' trial. “Remarkably, you will learn that from Duane Davis himself.”
Davis, 63, is charged with murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang in Shakur's death. He has pleaded not guilty. His lawyer in the defense opening called the prosecution's narrative “fiction.” If convicted, Davis faces life in prison.
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