Tupac Murder Trial Begins: What To Know As 'Keffe D' Faces A Historic Prosecution

Thirty years after Tupac Shakur was fatally shot in Las Vegas, a long‑anticipated criminal trial has begun. Jury selection started on Monday, Aug. 10, launching what prosecutors expect will be about a monthlong proceeding to determine whether Duane Keith "Keffe D" Davis ordered the Sept. 7, 1996, drive‑by shooting and supplied the firearm used to kill the 25‑year‑old rap icon.

Case At A Glance

Defendant: Duane Keith "Keffe D" Davis. He is the only person criminally charged in connection with the 1996 killing and has pleaded not guilty.

Charge: One count of murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang. If convicted, Davis faces a potential life sentence.

Indictment: Returned by a grand jury in 2023 after decades of an unsolved investigation.

Evidence And Key Developments

A central piece of the prosecution's case is a 2019 memoir Davis co‑wrote, Compton Street Legend: Notorious Keffe D's Street‑Level Accounts of Tupac and Biggie Murders, Death Row Origins, Suge Knight, Puffy Combs, and Crooked Cops, in which Davis admits he was in the car the night of the shooting and says he provided the weapon. Prosecutors told the court at a pretrial hearing that "had Mr. Davis never opened his mouth, never written the book, he would probably not have been prosecuted for the crime." A judge denied defense motions seeking to exclude the book and earlier police statements made by Davis in 2008–2009.

Investigators also point to law enforcement interviews and a Drug Enforcement Administration report filed in 2025 that cites Davis' claims about alleged third‑party involvement. Among the more explosive allegations are statements attributed to Davis that Sean "Diddy" Combs paid $1 million for a hit on Shakur and Marion "Suge" Knight — claims Combs has denied. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department previously said Combs was not a suspect in Shakur's killing.

Witness List And Context

On Aug. 4 prosecutors released a witness list of roughly 200 people who may testify. Potential witnesses include Suge Knight (who has said he would refuse to testify), Kirk Burrowes (a former Bad Boy Records executive), Eugene "Gene" Deal (a former bodyguard for Combs), Reggie Wright Jr. (former Death Row security chief), Yusuf Jah (co‑author of Davis's memoir), the LAPD detective who interviewed Davis, and several Shakur family members. Prosecutors will also present expert testimony and other law enforcement witnesses.

Historical Background

Shakur was at the peak of his career when he died. Months before the shooting he released the double album All Eyez On Me, which sold more than five million copies in the U.S. and cemented his influence on hip‑hop culture. At the time, Shakur was signed to Death Row Records, co‑founded by Suge Knight, a label widely reported to have had ties to the Bloods gang — a rival to the South Side Crips.

On the night of Sept. 7, 1996, Shakur and Knight left a Las Vegas boxing match after an altercation in which they assaulted a man described in media reports as a Crips member and identified as Davis' nephew. Hours later, a vehicle pulled up beside Shakur's car and opened fire. Shakur died; Knight survived. About six months later, Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace was killed in Los Angeles. Both high‑profile murders remain unsolved in many respects and have loomed over hip‑hop culture for decades.

What To Watch In The Trial

• How the prosecution ties Davis' memoir and his recorded police statements to the elements of the charged crime.
• Which witnesses from the long witness list appear and what firsthand or expert testimony they provide.
• Defense strategies to challenge Davis' statements, memory and credibility, and whether alternate suspects or motives are emphasized.
• The broader narrative jurors are asked to adopt about 1990s gang affiliations, label rivalries and alleged motives for retaliation.

This trial represents a rare criminal prosecution in a decades‑old, high‑profile homicide that has left many questions unanswered about the violent rivalries and alliances in 1990s hip‑hop. Observers will be watching both for evidence that moves the case and for how the court handles contested memoir and interview materials.

Contributing: Gina Barton