By Blessing Nweke
Jury selection has been completed for the trial of a former gang leader accused of ordering the 1996 killing of hip-hop superstar Tupac Shakur, bringing the long-running case closer to opening arguments.
Duane “Keffe D” Davis, a former member of the South Side Compton Crips, has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in connection with Shakur’s death. Prosecutors allege that Davis helped orchestrate the shooting following a confrontation involving Shakur and members of a rival gang in Las Vegas.
Shakur, one of the most influential rappers of his generation, was 25 when he was fatally shot while riding in a BMW on the Las Vegas Strip on Sept. 7, 1996. He died six days later from his injuries.
The case remained unsolved for decades before Davis was arrested in 2023. Authorities said his own public statements about his alleged involvement helped investigators revive the investigation.
Davis has previously acknowledged being present in the vehicle involved in the shooting but has disputed prosecutors’ characterization of his role. His defense is expected to challenge the evidence linking him directly to the planning and ordering of the killing.
The trial is being closely watched by Shakur’s family, longtime fans and the music industry. The rapper’s death has remained one of the most prominent unsolved mysteries in popular music, generating years of speculation about who was responsible.
With the jury now seated, prosecutors and defense attorneys are preparing to present their cases. The trial could provide new details about the events surrounding the shooting and potentially offer answers to questions that have remained unanswered for nearly three decades.
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