Opening statements begin in Tupac Shakur murder trial

Opening statements began in Las Vegas as the murder case of rapper Tupac Shakur enters its trial phase, with 63-year-old Duane “Keffe D” Davis accused of orchestrating the 1996 drive-by that killed Shakur. Prosecutors say Davis, a former leader of the South Side Crips, ordered the hit and supplied the gun, while Davis has pleaded not guilty and faces life in prison if convicted. The case hinges on Davis’s public admissions and memoirs that place him in a central role, even as the defense and supporters cast doubt on the extent of his involvement and whether he personally fired the shots. Prosecutors plan to call dozens of witnesses over the course of several weeks, seeking to untangle a case that has long been tied to the East Coast–West Coast hip-hop rivalry. Shakur’s family and friends have traveled to Las Vegas to observe the proceedings, which aim to bring new clarity to a three-decade-old mystery that remains highly symbolic for hip-hop culture. The trial follows an indictment in 2023 and underscores how the age-old questions of accountability and gang involvement intersect with one of music history’s most enduring crimes.