A murder trial for the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur began Monday in Las Vegas [1].
The proceedings mark the first time a defendant has faced a jury for the death of the influential artist, resolving decades of speculation regarding the drive-by shooting.
Duane "Keffe D" Davis, 63, is the only person ever charged in connection with the crime [3]. Jury selection started on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026 [1]. Legal experts said the trial is expected to last approximately one month [4].
Prosecutors said Davis provided the weapon and ordered the shooting that killed Shakur [5]. The case remained cold for nearly 30 years after the 1996 attack [2]. Davis was eventually charged in 2023 [5].
The trial takes place in Nevada, where the shooting occurred during a high-profile visit by the rapper. The prosecution said it intends to prove that Davis orchestrated the hit as part of a wider conflict.
Because the event occurred decades ago, the court must now weigh evidence and testimony from a period when forensic technology and investigative methods differed from current standards. The proceedings will examine the chain of events leading to the shooting, and the specific role Davis played in the conspiracy.
“Duane "Keffe D" Davis is the only person ever charged in connection with the crime”
This trial represents a rare legal resolution to one of the most famous unsolved murders in American music history. By bringing a defendant to trial nearly three decades after the fact, prosecutors are attempting to provide closure to a case that has long been shrouded in conspiracy theories and cultural myth. The outcome will determine if the legal system can successfully secure a conviction based on evidence and testimony from 1996.
