The murder trial of Duane “Keefe D” Davis in connection with the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur is finally underway, nearly 30 years after the rapper was fatally shot near the Las Vegas Strip.
Opening arguments began Monday in a Nevada courtroom, marking a major moment in a case that has remained one of hip-hop’s most closely watched unsolved killings for decades.
Prosecutors allege Davis planned the murder and produced the gun used in the shooting. They do not allege that Davis was the person who fired the fatal shot.
Davis has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was arrested in 2023 after years of publicly discussing his alleged involvement in Tupac’s killing and has remained in the Clark County Detention Center since his arrest.
If convicted, Davis faces life in prison.
The 64-year-old has previously indicated that prison does not frighten him, although he would rather not spend the rest of his life behind bars. A source previously told TMZ that prison can be especially dangerous for older inmates.
The case is unfolding almost exactly three decades after Tupac was killed. The rapper was just 25 years old when he was shot near the Las Vegas Strip in September 1996.
Jury selection also offered a glimpse at how closely Tupac’s legacy remains tied to the proceedings. According to the Associated Press, 12 jurors and four alternates were selected from more than 100 prospective jurors. Potential jurors were questioned about their favorite books and movies, whether they had listened to Tupac’s music and whether they held strong feelings about gangs.
That line of questioning underscores one of the unusual challenges surrounding the case: Tupac remains a towering cultural figure, while his death has continued to generate intense public interest for decades.
Now, with opening arguments underway, prosecutors and the defense will begin presenting their respective cases over a killing that has remained part of hip-hop history for nearly 30 years.
For Davis, the long-awaited trial could ultimately determine whether he spends the rest of his life in prison for his alleged role in Tupac Shakur’s death.
