A jury of six men and 10 women was selected Thursday to hear the case against Duane 'Keffe D' Davis, a former gang leader accused of orchestrating the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur.
Opening statements in the Las Vegas murder trial are scheduled to begin Monday, nearly 30 years after Shakur was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas Strip. Davis, now 63, has pleaded not guilty to murder charges. If convicted, he faces a life prison sentence.
Key details of the case
Davis was charged in 2023 with murder, described by authorities as the "shot caller" who orchestrated the killing. Prosecutors allege he provided the gun used in the shooting but have not accused him of pulling the trigger. Shakur was 25 at the time of his death and was a passenger in a BMW driven by Death Row Records co-founder Marion 'Suge' Knight when the shooting occurred. Knight survived the attack.
The trial is expected to last about a month, with jurors selected after questions about their familiarity with Shakur’s music, views on gangs, and potential biases. Shakur, one of the most influential rappers of all time, sold more than 75 million records worldwide and left a lasting cultural impact with hits such as "California Love" and "Dear Mama."
Background and historical context
Shakur’s killing occurred amid a fierce rivalry within the hip-hop scene, particularly between gangs and record labels. His death remains one of the most high-profile unsolved cases in music history, with fans and family members long awaiting accountability. The selection of the jury marks the first major step toward a trial after decades of speculation and unanswered questions.
The case has drawn renewed attention in recent years, with law enforcement re-examining evidence and pursuing new charges. Davis, a former member of the Southside Crips, has maintained his innocence throughout the legal process.