The first week of the murder trial for Tupac Shakur began on August 21, 2026, highlighting the difficulties faced by prosecutors nearly 30 years after Shakur's death. The defendant, Duane "Keffe D" Davis, 63, is accused of providing the weapon used in the 1996 drive-by shooting that killed Shakur and injured Marion "Suge" Knight. Davis is not accused of firing the weapon. The trial is expected to last four to five weeks.
Key witnesses have either died or are reluctant to cooperate, complicating the prosecution's case. Three men believed to have been in the vehicle with Davis are deceased, including Davis' nephew, Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson. The defense argues that Davis has fabricated his account of events.
Former FBI Special Agent Wade Lee testified that Davis cooperated with authorities following a drug-trafficking arrest in 1998. Davis has also discussed the events of the night of the shooting in a memoir and a documentary. The prosecution claims that the murder was a retaliation for Anderson's beating at the MGM Grand casino shortly before Shakur was shot.
Davis' own statements are central to the prosecution's case, with Chief Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal indicating that jurors will learn about Davis' admissions. The defense contends that Davis has exaggerated his involvement for personal gain, arguing that his claims lack corroboration.
During the trial, jurors were shown surveillance footage from the MGM Grand and heard testimony from various witnesses, including a former crime scene analyst who attended Shakur's autopsy. The trial continues with more witnesses expected to testify.