Former Gang Member James McDonald Testifies in Tupac Shakur Murder Trial of Keffe D

Jury Selection and Trial Schedule in Las Vegas

A jury of six men and 10 women was finalized on August 13, 2026, at the Clark County District Court Regional Justice Center under Judge Carli Kierny, according to reporting by CTV News and the Daily Mail. Opening statements in the case are scheduled to begin on August 17, 2026, with proceedings expected to last roughly a month.

According to the Associated Press, authorities charged Duane “Keffe D” Davis with murder three years ago, describing him as the shot caller who organized the shooting and provided the weapon. Davis, 63, has pleaded not guilty and faces life in prison without parole if convicted. Prosecutors have not accused Davis of firing the shots himself, but under Nevada law, an individual can be convicted of murder for helping another person commit the crime.

The 1996 Shooting and Witness List Details

Tupac Shakur was 25 years old when he was shot on September 7, 1996, near the Las Vegas Strip. The rapper was sitting in the passenger seat of a BMW driven by Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight after attending a Mike Tyson boxing match at the MGM Grand. A white Cadillac pulled up alongside them at a red light, and gunfire erupted. Knight survived the shooting, but Shakur died from his injuries six days later on September 13, 1996.

According to the Daily Mail, a supplemental witness list obtained by USA Today indicates that prosecutors may call between 35 and 45 witnesses, including members of Shakur’s family such as his sister Sekyiwa Shakur, stepbrother Maurice “Mopreme” Shakur, and cousin Katari Cox. Marion “Suge” Knight is also included on the potential witness list, though Knight has repeatedly stated he will not testify.

This trial has nothing to do with me and if somebody brings me there, it’s gonna hurt whoever brings me there. I promise you that.

Marion “Suge” Knight via ABC News

Evidence and Prior Statements

The case against Davis was revitalized after he published his 2019 memoir, Compton Street Legend, in which he discussed the shooting and his history with the South Side Compton Crips, alongside previous statements made to police and media interviews. Attorneys for Davis attempted to block details from the book and his 2008 police interview from being used in court, arguing the book contained fictionalized elements with a co-author and that his federal task force interview was meant to be confidential, as reported by CTV News.