Tupac Shakur murder trial: First week of testimony focuses on Keffe D’s alleged role in 1996 killing

Updated on: 22 Aug 2026, 4:45 am 4 min read LAS VEGAS: In the first week of testimony at the trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis, accused of orchestrating the killing of Tupac Shakur on the night of Sept. 7, 1996, jurors have heard key details from police, witnesses, and Davis himself. The prosecution argues Davis planned the shooting in retaliation for a beating his nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, suffered earlier that night. Shakur and Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight were in Las Vegas to watch a Mike Tyson fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Outside, they got into a brawl with Davis’ nephew. Later, Shakur and Knight were in a black BMW at a red light near the Las Vegas Strip when a white Cadillac pulled up beside them. Someone opened fire, shooting Shakur multiple times. He died six days later, while Knight survived with minor injuries. Davis’ lawyers dispute his statements, claiming they were exaggerated. The prosecution’s opening statement highlighted Davis’ own admissions in interviews—including a 2008 interview about the 1997 killing of Tupac’s rival, the Notorious B.I.G.—where he admitted orchestrating the shooting. He claimed he passed the gun to his nephew, who fired it. The defense called this bluff, arguing Davis’ words were bragging. Seventeen witnesses testified in the first five days, including a police officer who responded to the scene and a homicide detective who struggled to identify the men in the Cadillac. Former gang members, like James McDonald—a former Mob Piru Bloods member who worked with Knight—testified unwillingly, revealing secrets from the era. Leonard Jefferson, who took the last known photo of Shakur, also testified, describing how the image captured the moment. Davis’ own statements, including a 2008 interview, were played for jurors. He admitted his role in the shooting, saying he would have shot Knight if they had been in the Cadillac. The prosecution argues these statements prove his guilt, while Davis’ lawyer claims they are false. Davis has pleaded not guilty, and if convicted, he faces life in prison. The trial is expected to last about a month, with a jury of six men and ten women deciding whether Davis is guilty of murder with intent to promote a criminal gang.