Trial opens today over 1996 murder of legendary rapper Tupac Shakur
LAS VEGAS, USA — Nearly three decades after the fatal shooting of legendary American rapper Tupac Shakur, the long-awaited murder trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis is set to begin Monday in Las Vegas.
Davis, 63, is accused of orchestrating the September 1996 shooting that claimed the life of Shakur, one of hip-hop’s most influential figures.
The trial marks a major development in a case that remained unsolved for decades and has continued to attract worldwide attention because of Shakur’s enduring influence on music and popular culture.
Prosecutors allege that Davis was involved in planning the attack that resulted in Shakur being shot while riding in a BMW driven by Death Row Records founder Marion “Suge” Knight on the Las Vegas Strip.
Shakur, 25, died from his injuries six days later, on September 13, 1996.
Davis has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Prosecutors have alleged that he helped orchestrate the attack, although he is not accused of being the person who physically pulled the trigger.
The case gained renewed momentum in 2023 when Las Vegas police arrested Davis following a search of his home. His previous public statements about his alleged involvement in the shooting have also become a significant part of the prosecution's case.
The opening of the trial is expected to revive global interest in one of the most famous unsolved killings in music history.
For nearly 30 years, questions surrounding who was responsible for Shakur’s death have generated countless theories, documentaries, songs and investigations.
Now, the prosecution and defence will present their cases before a jury, with the court expected to examine the evidence surrounding the events of that September night in Las Vegas.
Shakur's death remains one of the defining tragedies in hip-hop history, coming at the height of his career and amid the intense East Coast-West Coast rivalry that dominated American rap in the 1990s.
The trial is therefore expected to attract significant international media attention as prosecutors attempt to establish Davis's alleged role in the killing and the defence challenges the evidence against him.
Tupac Shakur was 25 when he was killed. Nearly 30 years later, the courtroom battle over his death is finally beginning.
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