Key facts
- A jury of 16 people has been selected for the trial of Duane "Keffe D" Davis.
- Davis is accused of orchestrating the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur.
- Opening statements are expected to begin Monday.
- Davis faces a potential life sentence if convicted.
- Davis' 2019 book and prior statements to police and media are central to the case.
- Marion "Suge" Knight is expected to testify.
A jury of 6 men and 10 women has been selected to hear the murder trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis, an ex-gang leader accused of orchestrating the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur. Opening statements are expected to begin Monday in Las Vegas, nearly 30 years after the pivotal event in hip-hop history.
Shakur, 25, was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas Strip. Authorities charged Davis, now 63, three years ago, identifying him as the "shot caller" who orchestrated the killing and provided the weapon, though not the shooter. Davis has pleaded not guilty and faces a potential life sentence if convicted.
The trial is expected to last about a month. During jury selection, potential jurors were questioned about their familiarity with gangs, Tupac Shakur's music, and their personal backgrounds. Shakur remains one of the most influential rappers, with over 75 million records sold worldwide.
Prosecutors contend that Davis can be convicted of murder in Nevada for aiding in the commission of the crime. Davis is the only living individual who was in the car from which the fatal shots originated. The case against him gained momentum after he published the book “Compton Street Legend” in 2019 and made statements during police and media interviews. Davis' defense attorneys have argued that the book was fictionalized and that a 2008 interview with a federal task force should be considered confidential.
Marion “Suge” Knight, co-founder of Death Row Records and the driver of the car Shakur was in, is among those expected to testify. Knight is currently serving a 28-year sentence for a separate crime. Prosecutors anticipate calling between 35 and 45 witnesses. Sean “Diddy” Combs, who Davis alleged wanted Shakur and Knight dead, will not be among the witnesses.