Nearly three decades after Tupac Shakur was fatally shot in Las Vegas, a jury has been selected to determine whether Duane “Keffe D” Davis is guilty of murdering the legendary rapper.
Twelve jurors and four alternates have been chosen for the long-awaited trial, bringing the case over Shakur’s 1996 killing closer to a courtroom decision.
Shakur was shot multiple times near the Las Vegas Strip on September 7, 1996, while riding in a BMW with Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight. The rapper died six days later at the age of 25.
Davis, a former gang member who has acknowledged being in the vehicle involved in the shooting, was arrested in 2023 and charged with murder with a deadly weapon. Prosecutors allege that he helped organize the shooting following an earlier confrontation involving Shakur and members of the South Side Compton Crips.
Davis has pleaded not guilty and has maintained that he was not the gunman. His defense team is expected to challenge the prosecution’s account of his role in the killing.
The selection of the jury represents a major milestone in one of the most closely watched unsolved murder cases in music history. Shakur’s death has remained the subject of investigations, documentaries, books and decades of speculation among fans.
The trial could provide new details about what happened that night in Las Vegas and whether prosecutors can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Davis played a criminal role in Shakur’s death.
Tupac remains one of the most influential figures in hip-hop history. His music, poetry and cultural impact have continued to resonate with generations of fans nearly 30 years after his death.
As the trial begins, the focus now shifts from decades of speculation to evidence presented in court, with the jury ultimately responsible for determining Davis’s guilt or innocence.
