A Historic Trial for Hip-Hop
On Monday, August 17, 2026, fans of Tupac Shakur gathered outside a Las Vegas courthouse as opening statements began in the trial of Duane 'Keffe D' Davis, the only person ever charged in the rapper's murder on September 7, 1996. Davis, 63, faces charges of murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further, or assist a criminal gang. He has pleaded not guilty and, if convicted, could receive life in prison without parole.
The case remained cold for nearly 30 years until Davis was formally indicted in 2023. His own memoir, Compton Street Legend (2019), and his interviews with police were pivotal in reviving the investigation.
The Night of the Crime
On September 7, 1996, Tupac Shakur and Death Row Records co-founder Marion 'Suge' Knight attended a boxing match between Mike Tyson and Bruce Seldon at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. After the fight, Shakur and his entourage assaulted Orlando 'Baby Lane' Anderson, Davis's nephew and a reputed member of the South Side Compton Crips. Hours later, as Shakur rode in Knight's BMW, a white Cadillac pulled alongside and opened fire. Shakur was hit four times and died six days later at age 25.
The Accusation and Defense
Prosecutors allege Davis orchestrated the attack as retaliation for the beating of his nephew. In his memoir, Davis wrote: “We couldn't let studio gangsters from a record company do that to us.” Defense attorney Michael Sanft argues the book was “fictionalized” to sell copies and that no evidence shows Davis ordered the shooting. Davis, in a recent interview, denied being in Las Vegas that night and claimed he didn't write the book.
Witnesses and Key Players
The jury consists of six men and ten women, with four alternates. Prosecutors plan to call 35 to 45 witnesses, including Suge Knight, the only living eyewitness besides the defendant—though Knight has said he doesn't want to testify. Others may include Shakur's family members, former Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman, and retired detective Greg Kading. The defense will call few witnesses and hasn't confirmed whether Davis will testify.
The other three men in the Cadillac have all died: Orlando Anderson (1998), Deandrae 'Freaky' Smith (2004), and Terry 'Bubble Up' Brown (2015).
Tupac's Legacy
Tupac Shakur, born in 1971, is widely regarded as one of the most influential rappers ever. He earned six Grammy nominations and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. His album All Eyez on Me was the first double album by a solo hip-hop artist to hit number one on the Billboard 200. His death, along with that of The Notorious B.I.G., marked an era of East Coast–West Coast rivalry in rap.
The trial, expected to last about a month, is seen as a historic moment for justice and for fans who have demanded answers for decades. Tupac's half-brother, Maurice 'Mopreme' Shakur, said attending the trial will be “retraumatizing” but important for the family.