Key facts
- Duane "Keffe D" Davis is on trial in Las Vegas for the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur.
- In a 2008 police interview, Davis stated his nephew Orlando Anderson fired the fatal shots.
- Prosecutors allege Davis orchestrated the murder and supplied the weapon.
- Davis' defense argues his prior statements are unreliable and uncorroborated.
- Testimony suggests Davis discussed the murder with Sean "Diddy" Combs.
Duane "Keffe D" Davis is currently on trial in Las Vegas, accused of orchestrating the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur. Prosecutors allege Davis planned the shooting and supplied the weapon after his nephew, Orlando Anderson, was involved in a physical altercation with Shakur hours earlier.
During the trial, jurors heard a recording of a 2008 police interview with Davis. In the interview, Davis stated that he was a passenger in a Cadillac when it stopped alongside Shakur's car. He claimed he passed a gun to another passenger, Deandre "Big Dre" Smith, who declined it. Davis then stated that Anderson, who was also in the back seat, took the weapon and fired the shots that killed Shakur.
Davis' defense attorney, Michael Sanft, has argued that his client's statements, made in interviews and a 2019 memoir titled "Compton Street Legend," are unreliable and lack corroboration. Davis himself has since claimed that parts of the memoir were fictionalized to boost sales.
Prosecutors contend that Davis' memoir, which details his alleged involvement and anger over the fight involving his nephew, demonstrates his intent. They also presented evidence that Davis discussed killing Shakur with Sean "Diddy" Combs during the time of the murder.
However, a former Las Vegas homicide detective testified that no witnesses were able to identify the shooter. Additionally, a former member of Shakur's entourage testified that individuals within Shakur's circle quickly identified Orlando Anderson as responsible for the shooting, indicating a gang-related motive.