Jury Selection Begins in Las Vegas Trial of Former Gang Leader Accused in Tupac Shakur Murder

Jury selection started Monday in Las Vegas as prosecutors move forward with the murder trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the former South Side Compton Crips leader accused of ordering and providing the firearm used in the 1996 drive-by shooting that killed rapper Tupac Shakur. About 75 prospective jurors were questioned about their ability to remain impartial in the high-profile case, which could result in a life-without-parole sentence if Davis is convicted.

Shakur, 25, was shot while riding in a BMW with music executive Marion “Suge” Knight after attending a Mike Tyson boxing match. Knight survived; Shakur died later that night. Davis is the sole defendant and is charged with murder with a deadly weapon, though prosecutors say he did not fire the shots himself.

The prosecution plans to introduce excerpts from Davis’s 2019 memoir, Compton Street Legend, which describes the shooting and allegedly shows Davis handing a pistol to passengers in the Cadillac that fired at Shakur’s car. Davis has pleaded not guilty, claiming the book exaggerates his involvement.

William Lesane, who identified himself as Shakur’s cousin, told reporters outside the courthouse, "Hopefully we’ll find out some new information. And more importantly, the right person is charged and convicted for Tupac’s murder."

The trial, overseen by Judge Carli Kierny, is expected to last four to five weeks. It will revisit the long-standing rivalry between Death Row Records, linked to Knight, and Bad Boy Records, led by Sean “Diddy” Combs, a backdrop that has fueled public speculation for decades. A civil wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Shakur’s stepbrother also alleges that others involved in the killing have never been held accountable.