Eclectic group gathers for start of trial over Tupac Shakur slaying

Noble Brigham, Las Vegas Review-Journal on Aug 10, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

LAS VEGAS — An eclectic group of people gathered at the Regional Justice Center on Monday as the murder trial of a man accused of orchestrating the slaying of rapper Tupac Shakur began with jury selection.

Duane “Keffe D” Davis, 63, is now on trial in connection with the death of Shakur, who was 25 when he was shot near the Strip in September 1996.

Prosecutors have said Davis’ public statements drove a renewed effort to investigate the case. In a memoir that he has since disputed writing, Davis described “tossing” a gun into the back seat of the Cadillac in which he was riding, allowing another man to commit the shooting.

The trial’s first day attracted people who described themselves as relatives of Shakur, fans and podcasters. There were also journalists from local and national news organizations.

William Lesane, who said he was as a cousin of Shakur, told reporters he saw the trial as a culmination of “30 years of trauma, anger, depression, sadness, grief, mourning.”

“I’m open to learning new information, seeing if there was other people involved and it was a deeper, deeper conspiracy,” he said.

Duane Davis has told reporters he was actually not in Las Vegas at the time of the shooting, despite his previous statements.

“I think his alibi is a desperate attempt to evade justice and I don’t blame him,” Lesane said. “I would probably do the same thing if I was in his shoes, if I said I was there and then get arrested and find out: I’m 63 years old, I’m facing life in jail.”

Prosecutors have said Davis was the “shot-caller” who came up with the plan to exact revenge on the rapper and Death Row Records CEO Marion “Suge” Knight in retaliation for an attack by Shakur and his entourage against Davis’ nephew, Orlando Anderson, earlier that night at the MGM Grand.

Knight’s head was grazed by a bullet in the shooting.

Some spectators made long journeys to attend the trial.

Jirah Devin, who came from Florida with his wife, said Shakur was a major influence in his life, but indicated that he was not convinced of Davis’ guilt.

“I don’t think Keffe did it,” he said. “I think he’s really a fall guy to buy some time and cause confusion.”

Asked what he thinks happened to Shakur, he said, “I believe that there’s a possibility that he could still be here, but either way, he’s here. Nobody’s dead until the last man speaks their name.”

_____