Opening statements commenced in the trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis, accused of orchestrating rapper Tupac Shakur’s killing nearly three decades ago. Davis, 63, faces charges of murder with a deadly weapon, aiming to further a criminal gang. If convicted, he could receive a life sentence. In court, Davis wore a blue suit, observing the audience before sitting with his lawyer Michael Sanft.
Family members of Shakur, including stepbrother Maurice “Mopreme” Shakur, were present. Chief Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal introduced evidence to jurors, showing a photo from the Tyson fight on September 7, 1996, and a video of an attack on Davis’s nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson. Palal stated, “Tupac publicly participated in a beating of Davis’s nephew. Two and a half hours later, Tupac was gunned down in retaliation.” Palal clarified that Davis did not shoot Shakur but directed the attack.
Sanft questioned the timing of the charges against Davis, arguing the lack of corroborative evidence. Davis’s trial revives the long-unsolved drive-by shooting that captivated the hip-hop community, as no one was charged until Davis’s 2023 indictment. Despite his death at 25, Shakur remains a cultural icon, nominated for six Grammy Awards and inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.
Numerous fans gathered for the trial, with some traveling from far distances. Din Malone, a fan from Denver, attended in support. “As a brother and a fan, I felt like he talked through his music,” Malone stated while wearing a Tupac shirt and playing his music.
The trial could extend over weeks, with prosecutors planning to call 35 to 45 witnesses, while the defense will call only a few. Maurice Shakur emphasized the significance of attending the trial, saying, “We’re gonna stand by Pac as we always have.” Friends and fans of Shakur traveled to Las Vegas, showing their support during jury selection.
Prosecutors allege that Davis orchestrated the attack; the gunfire emerged from a Cadillac Davis rode in with three others who are now deceased. In 2008, Davis provided information to investigators regarding the deaths of Shakur and Notorious B.I.G., under a condition it wouldn’t be used against him. However, his 2018 book detailed his involvement, reigniting the investigation.
“Had he decided to never write the book, he would not, probably, have ever been prosecuted for the crime,” stated prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo.
Sanft claims Davis wrote the book “Compton Street Legend” for profit, asserting it’s unclear what portions Davis truly authored. Co-author Yusuf Jah, listed as a potential witness, doubted if Davis read the completed book. On the trial’s first day, Sanft argued that previous hesitance to charge Davis indicated skepticism about his claims.
Prosecutors concede that the book is sensationalized, but they aim to parse out truth, exaggeration, and falsehood. Recently, Davis told a local station that he wasn’t present when Shakur was shot, albeit his book recounts attending the same fight in Las Vegas.