Duane Davis goes on trial for Tupac Shakur murder

Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the man accused of orchestrating the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur, went on trial on Monday in Las Vegas. Davis, now 63, faces one count of murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote or assist a criminal gang in Shakur’s death. The trial marks the first time in nearly three decades that someone has been charged in the killing of one of hip-hop’s most iconic figures.

The case stems from a long-running feud between Shakur’s Death Row Records and its rivals, including Suge Knight’s label and the Southside Crips gang. Shakur was shot in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996, and died six days later. The murder has remained unsolved until now, despite multiple investigations and years of speculation. Davis, a former member of the Crips, was named as a suspect in court filings last year after another man, Orlando Anderson, was posthumously linked to the shooting.

Prosecutors allege Davis played a central role in planning the attack. According to court documents, he admitted in a 2018 interview with police that he was in the car from which the shots were fired. Davis has not commented publicly since his arrest in September 2023. The trial is expected to last several weeks, with key witnesses, including surviving members of Shakur’s entourage, set to testify.

Regardless of the outcome, the trial reopens one of the most infamous cold cases in music history. Shakur’s murder has fueled decades of conspiracy theories and gang-related rumors. A conviction would bring a measure of closure to a chapter that has haunted hip-hop and American pop culture for nearly 30 years. If acquitted, the case may remain officially unsolved, leaving questions about justice and accountability unanswered.