18/08/2026
Tupac Shakur Murder Trial Begins in Las Vegas
17 August 2026
The long-awaited trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the man accused of orchestrating the 1996 killing of legendary rapper Tupac Shakur, has begun in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Prosecutors told jurors that Davis, a former gang leader, masterminded the drive-by shooting as an act of revenge after his nephew was beaten by Shakur and members of his entourage at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino on September 7, 1996.
Prosecutor Binu Palal said Davis was the alleged “on-the-ground, on-site commander” of the effort to kill Tupac. Prosecutors allege that Davis obtained the gun used in the shooting and provided it to the men who carried out the attack. They are not alleging that Davis personally pulled the trigger.
Tupac, whose real name was Tupac Amaru Shakur, was shot four times while riding in a car with Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight. He died in hospital six days later at the age of 25.
Davis, 63, has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge involving the use of a deadly weapon and an allegation that the killing was connected to criminal-gang activity.
The prosecution says Davis became a key suspect after making public statements that investigators say contained self-incriminating details about the killing.
However, defence lawyer Michael Sandt told jurors that investigators still have limited evidence against Davis, despite the passage of nearly 30 years.
“At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself, is what they are saying truth or fiction?” Sandt said.
The trial, being heard before Judge Carli Kierny, is expected to last up to six weeks. The case could include testimony from Suge Knight, who was driving the vehicle when Tupac was shot.
Tupac’s killing remains one of the most significant unsolved mysteries in hip-hop history. His death also intensified the rivalry between East Coast and West Coast rap artists during the 1990s.
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