LAS VEGAS, NV. (THECOUNT) — Nearly three decades after the fatal shooting of legendary rapper Tupac Shakur, the long-running murder case is finally headed to trial, with prosecutors accusing Duane “Keffe D” Davis of orchestrating the 1996 killing.
Davis was arrested in 2023 after investigators announced a major breakthrough in the case, which had remained unsolved for more than 25 years. He has been charged with murder in connection with Shakur’s death.
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Prosecutors allege Davis played a central role in the shooting and provided the firearm used to kill the rapper.
Shakur was shot on the Las Vegas Strip on Sept. 7, 1996, after attending a heavyweight boxing match between Mike Tyson and Bruce Seldon at the MGM Grand.
Following the fight, Shakur and members of his entourage became involved in a physical altercation inside the MGM Grand. Shakur later left the casino with Death Row Records co-founder Suge Knight, who was driving a BMW with Shakur riding in the passenger seat.
As the BMW traveled near the Las Vegas Strip, a Cadillac pulled alongside the vehicle. Investigators say occupants of the Cadillac opened fire, striking Shakur multiple times.
Shakur was transported to University Medical Center in Las Vegas, where he died six days later on Sept. 13, 1996. He was 25.
For decades, the circumstances surrounding the shooting remained one of the most closely watched unsolved cases in music history.
The investigation took a major turn in July 2023, when Las Vegas police searched a home in connection with the case. Authorities said the search was part of their renewed investigation into Shakur’s killing.
Two months later, Davis was arrested and charged with murder with a deadly weapon in connection with the shooting.
Davis has pleaded not guilty and has maintained his innocence.
The trial is expected to revisit the events surrounding the night Shakur was killed, including the confrontation at the MGM Grand, the movements of the vehicles after the boxing match and the alleged involvement of Davis and others in the shooting.
The proceedings could also provide the most extensive courtroom examination yet of the evidence investigators have developed during the nearly three decades since Shakur’s death.
Watch the Tupac Shakur murder trial live below:
The case has drawn worldwide attention because of Shakur’s enduring influence on hip-hop and popular culture. His music and legacy have continued to grow in the decades since his death, while questions surrounding who was responsible for the shooting remained the subject of speculation and investigation.
As the trial unfolds, prosecutors will be required to prove their allegations against Davis beyond a reasonable doubt.
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