Trial of Duane 'Keffe D' Davis begins in Las Vegas for the murder of Tupac Shakur

Legal proceedings have officially commenced in Las Vegas regarding the 1996 murder of legendary hip-hop artist Tupac Shakur. The trial of 63-year-old Duane 'Keffe D' Davis, a former member of the South Side Compton Crips, began on August 10, 2026, nearly thirty years after the incident. Davis is the only individual charged in connection with the drive-by shooting that took place on the Las Vegas Strip on September 7, 1996.

Prosecutors allege that while Davis did not personally pull the trigger, he played a critical role in orchestrating the attack and securing the weapon used. The indictment includes charges of murder with a deadly weapon and allegations of gang-related activity. If convicted, Davis faces a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. He has formally entered a plea of not guilty.

The defense argues that previous admissions made by Davis in interviews and his book, 'Compton Street Legend', were merely exaggerations intended to gain publicity and financial profit rather than factual confessions. The court is currently undergoing the jury selection process, and the trial is expected to last approximately one month.