Duane “Keffe D” Davis faces trial in Las Vegas nearly 30 years after the drive-by shooting that killed rap icon Tupac Shakur. According to the Associated Press, prosecutors intend to prove that Davis orchestrated the attack and provided the weapon used in the September 1996 shooting, in a case expected to last a month.
The Prosecution’s Case and Evidence
According to the Associated Press, the state’s case relies heavily on “Compton Street Legend,” the memoir Davis co-authored, alongside recorded police and media interviews. Prosecutors maintain that Davis called the shots and provided the firearm from the Cadillac involved in the incident. Davis’ defense attorneys unsuccessfully argued to block the book and a 2008 police interview, contending the memoir contained fictionalized elements and that the interview with a federal task force was intended to be confidential, as reported by the Associated Press.
The 1996 Las Vegas Shooting Background
On Sept. 7, 1996, Tupac Shakur sat in the passenger seat of a black BMW driven by Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight. According to FOX Local reporting, the pair had just watched Mike Tyson defeat Bruce Seldon in a boxing match and were heading to a nightclub where Shakur was scheduled to perform. At a red light near the Las Vegas Strip, a white Cadillac pulled alongside them, and gunfire erupted. Shakur sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died six days later. Knight survived with minor injuries and is currently serving a 28-year prison sentence for a deadly hit-and-run.
Retired Las Vegas police Detective Clifford Mogg noted that no weapon was found in Knight and Shakur’s vehicle. The investigation stalled for years until Davis began discussing his role as a leader of the South Side Compton Crips in public statements, culminating in his 2019 memoir that ultimately revived police interest.
Charges and Legal Status
Davis, 63, faces a single count of murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further, or assist a criminal gang, according to the Associated Press. He has pleaded not guilty and has remained jailed since late 2023. As the trial begins, Davis is one of the only people there that night who is still alive.
Related reading