Trial of Duane "Keffe D" Davis Begins in Tupac Shakur Murder Case
Duane "Keffe D" Davis entered a not-guilty plea as opening statements started in Las Vegas, where prosecutors allege he organized the 1996 drive-by shooting that killed rapper Tupac Shakur.
Fans and family members gathered at a Las Vegas courthouse on Monday for the opening statements in the murder trial of Duane "Keffe D" Davis, 63. Davis is charged with murder with a deadly weapon and with aiding a criminal gang in the 1996 shooting that killed rapper Tupac Shakur. He pleaded not guilty and faces a possible life sentence if convicted.
Prosecutors say Davis did not fire the weapon but coordinated the attack in retaliation after Shakur’s entourage allegedly assaulted Davis’s nephew earlier that night. The prosecution plans to call 35 to 45 witnesses, while the defense expects to present only a few.
Members of Shakur’s family, including his stepbrother Maurice "Mopreme" Shakur, attended the proceedings. > "We're gonna stand by Pac as we always have," Shakur’s stepbrother said, adding that the trial would be emotionally difficult for the family.
Several fans traveled from other states to watch the trial. One fan, Din Malone, said he felt a personal connection to Shakur’s music while waiting outside the courthouse.
The case gained renewed attention after Davis published a memoir, "Compton Street Legend," in which he described his alleged involvement. Prosecutors argue the book revived the investigation and serves as key evidence, while Davis’s attorney contends the book was written for profit and its accuracy is uncertain.
The trial is expected to last several weeks as both sides present their evidence and testimony.