Ex-Gang Leader Faces Jury in Tupac Case

Jury selection has concluded in the Las Vegas murder trial of Duane 'Keffe D' Davis, an ex-gang leader accused of orchestrating the 1996 killing of iconic rapper Tupac Shakur. A panel of 16 jurors, comprised of 6 men and 10 women, was seated on Thursday, August 13, 2026. The trial, which is expected to last approximately one month, will hear opening statements on Monday.

Shakur, then 25, was fatally shot in a drive-by near the Las Vegas Strip. Authorities charged Davis, now 63, three years ago, identifying him as the 'shot caller' behind the event. He has pleaded not guilty, facing a potential life sentence if convicted. Prosecutors do not allege Davis fired the fatal shots but state he orchestrated the killing and provided the weapon, a charge permissible under Nevada law for aiding in a crime.

The case gained momentum following Davis's 2019 book, 'Compton Street Legend,' and his subsequent interviews detailing his involvement. His defense attorneys challenged the admissibility of his book and a 2008 police interview, arguing the book was fictionalized and the interview was confidential. Marion 'Suge' Knight, co-founder of Death Row Records and driver of the car Shakur was in, is among potential witnesses, though he has expressed a desire to avoid involvement.

Prosecutors anticipate calling between 35 and 45 witnesses. The trial brings to a close a decades-long wait for answers surrounding one of hip-hop's most tragic and influential moments.