Tupac Shakur Murder Trial Begins in Las Vegas — Witnesses Take the Stand After 30 Years

Three decades after the death of hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur, the man accused of orchestrating his murder finally faced trial this week in Las Vegas. Duane “Keffe D” Davis — the only person ever charged in the 1996 killing — sat in court as prosecutors and witnesses laid out the timeline of the drive-by shooting that shocked the music world.

How the Trial Kicked Off

The trial officially began on Monday, marking 30 years since Shakur’s death in the Las Vegas drive-by shooting. (The Hollywood Reporter) Davis, dressed in a blue suit, entered the courtroom with his attorney Michael Sanft as Clark County prosecutors delivered their opening statement. (News3LV) The gathering drew grieving family members, news cameras, and jurors into a Las Vegas courtroom to finally confront the long-unsolved case. (CNN)

Prosecution Lays Out Its Case

Prosecutors framed the killing as an act of revenge, tied to an earlier attack that same night on Orlando Anderson, who is Davis’ nephew. (CNN) To build their case, they used surveillance footage, audio clips, and witness testimony to walk jurors through the events of September 7, 1996 — the night Shakur was fatally shot. (CNN)

What the Witnesses Said

A key moment came from a witness named Stokes, who was near the scene. She testified that no one shouted “Tupac! Tupac!” during the encounter with the BMW, and described both Suge Knight and Shakur as appearing relaxed in the vehicle, with Shakur not hanging out of the window and no crowd of fans gathered around the car. (News3LV) When a juror asked whether she could tell which direction the gunshots came from, she said she could not. (News3LV)
Testimony also touched on Suge Knight’s own account. A witness named Becker recalled that Knight came across as “timid” during questioning and suggested Knight may not have actually known much, despite earlier claims. (The Hollywood Reporter)
Retired LAPD investigator Fred Miller also testified, connecting Davis to evidence uncovered during the investigation into the unrelated murder of Christopher “Biggie” Wallace. (CNN) A Polaroid photo showing Davis with other men was reportedly found in a car linked to that separate case. (CNN)

Key Details:

• Defendant: Duane “Keffe D” Davis, 63 — pleaded not guilty
• Charge: Orchestrating the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur
• Trial location: Clark County courtroom, Las Vegas
• Prosecution’s theory: Revenge attack over an earlier assault on Davis’ nephew
• Notable witnesses so far: Stokes (eyewitness), Becker, retired LAPD detective Fred Miller

Why the Trial Took So Long to Happen

This case sat cold for nearly 30 years before charges were ever filed. Even after Davis’ 2023 indictment, the trial faced delays — his defense previously pushed for a postponement after a private investigator claimed to have identified new witnesses, including some who could allegedly prove Davis wasn’t even in Las Vegas at the time of the shooting. (yahoo) The defense also claimed the investigator had identified another possible suspect who may have orchestrated the shooting instead. (yahoo) Those delay attempts pushed the trial back multiple times before finally starting this week.

What Happens Next

Day one wrapped up with jurors reviewing an extensive audio interview involving Davis, and the trial was set to resume the following day. (The Hollywood Reporter) The case is expected to run for several weeks as more witnesses take the stand.

FAQs

Duane “Keffe D” Davis, a 63-year-old former gang figure, is the only person ever charged in the case.
What is the prosecution’s theory?
That Shakur’s killing was a revenge shooting tied to an earlier attack on Davis’ nephew, Orlando Anderson.
Has Davis pleaded guilty?
No — he has pleaded not guilty.
Why did it take 30 years to go to trial?
The case remained unsolved for decades before Davis was indicted in 2023, with further delays after his defense sought time to investigate new witnesses.
Where is the trial taking place?

Who is on trial for Tupac Shakur’s murder?

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