Prosecutor Says Former Gang Leader Orchestrated Tupac Shakur Killing

A prosecutor told jurors that former street gang leader Duane “Keffe D” Davis orchestrated the 1996 drive-by shooting that killed hip-hop star Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas. Davis, 63, is accused of arranging the attack in retaliation for the beating of his nephew during a confrontation at the MGM Grand casino. He has pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder using a deadly weapon.

Prosecutor Binu Palal said Davis ensured the alleged shooters were armed and ready after the casino brawl between rival Los Angeles-area gangs. Authorities allege Davis obtained the murder weapon and handed it to another man in a white Cadillac that later pulled alongside the vehicle carrying Shakur and Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight. Shakur was struck four times and died six days later, while Knight suffered a minor head injury.

The case remained unsolved for decades until statements Davis made publicly, including in interviews and his 2019 memoir, helped revive the investigation. Defense lawyer Michael Sandt argued that prosecutors still lack reliable evidence and said Davis had a history of making unsubstantiated claims. The trial, being heard in a Las Vegas court before Judge Carli Kierny, is expected to last up to six weeks and could include testimony from Knight.

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