What to know about the Tupac Shakur murder trial now underway

For nearly three decades, the identity of the individual responsible for rapper Tupac Shakur's murder remains unresolved. Recently, Duane Keith Davis, also known as Keffe D, has stepped into the spotlight due to his claims regarding his involvement in the fatal drive-by shooting. As the central figure in the ongoing murder trial, Davis is accused of providing the weapon used to kill Shakur.

On the night of the tragic incident, Shakur and Death Row Records co-founder Marion Suge Knight were in Las Vegas to witness Mike Tyson's bout against Bruce Seldon. After the fight, they and their entourage encountered a group that included Davis's nephew, Orlando Baby Lane Anderson. The confrontation ensued, leading Shakur and Knight to a nightclub where Shakur was destined to perform.

While in traffic, a white Cadillac approached and opened fire. Authorities assert that Davis was among four men inside the vehicle, alongside Anderson, Deandrae Smith, and Terry Brown.

Shakur was struck multiple times and succumbed to his injuries six days later, while Knight survived with minor wounds. Davis, currently 63 years old, is the only individual to have been charged in connection with Shakur's murder. A former leader of the South Side Compton Crips, a California gang believed to have orchestrated the killing, Davis has been incarcerated since 2023, awaiting trial. His detailed accounts of the evening, including a 2019 memoir, reignited the cold case, ultimately leading to his arrest.

During the trial, Chief Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal emphasized that Davis is the only person who has remained steadfast in providing information. Davis has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder with the use of a deadly weapon. His defense team contends that the descriptions Davis provided in his memoir and other interviews are fictitious and that Compton Street Legend is not grounded in reality.

The prosecution will focus on Davis's statements from previous interviews and security footage, which shows Shakur and his entourage confronting Anderson prior to the shooting. The prosecution plans to present between 35 to 45 witnesses, including law enforcement personnel and technical experts.

Though Davis is not accused of actual gun discharge, he could still be convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison under Nevada law, provided the jury finds the narratives presented by Davis and his defense credible.