Tupac Shakur Murder Trial Jury Set as Opening Statements Begin Next Week

A jury of six men and 10 women was selected Thursday to hear the murder trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis, an ex-gang leader accused of orchestrating the 1996 drive-by shooting of rapper Tupac Shakur, according to CBS News. Opening statements in the Las Vegas courtroom are expected to begin Monday, launching a proceeding expected to last about a month.

Jury Selection and Trial Schedule in Las Vegas

The panel of 16 jurors was finalized after a selection process where potential candidates answered questions regarding their familiarity with gangs, their favorite books and movies, and whether they had listened to Shakur’s music, as reported by CBS News. Authorities charged Davis, 63, with murder three years ago, identifying him as the shot caller behind the attack that ended the 25-year-old artist’s life. According to CBS News, Davis has pleaded not guilty and faces a potential sentence of life in prison if convicted.

The 1996 Shooting and the Case Against Duane Davis

Shakur was shot on September 7, 1996, while riding in the passenger seat of a BMW driven by Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight near the Las Vegas Strip. Knight survived the shooting, but Shakur died six days later. Prosecutors have not accused Davis of pulling the trigger, but under Nevada law, an individual can be convicted of murder for helping another person commit the crime, according to CBS News. Investigators maintain that Davis made the calls leading to the death and provided the firearm used in the attack.

Evidence and Witness Expectations

The case against Davis was revived after he published his 2019 book, Compton Street Legend, and made statements during various police and media interviews. Defense attorneys unsuccessfully attempted to block details from the book and a 2008 police interview, arguing that the book was fictionalized with a co-author and that the federal task force interview was meant to be confidential, as noted by CBS News. Prosecutors expect to call between 35 and 45 witnesses, including individuals who saw Shakur moments before the shooting and former associates of both Shakur and Davis. While Knight is among those who could potentially be called to testify, attorneys confirmed that Sean “Diddy” Combs will not be a witness in the trial.