Closing statements are scheduled Monday in the trial of Duane "Keffe D" Davis, who is accused of orchestrating the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas.
Davis, 63, is charged with one count of murder with a deadly weapon, with the prosecution arguing he planned the attack as retaliation. The trial, which spanned nine days, involved 24 prosecution witnesses and three defense witnesses. Prosecutors originally anticipated calling 35 to 45 witnesses.
The state's case hinges on statements Davis made to authorities, documentarians, and in his book, "Compton Street Legend." In these accounts, Davis admitted to being in the Cadillac from which shots were fired at Shakur and acknowledged providing the gun used in the assault. He has described the shooting as a response to an earlier physical altercation involving his nephew, Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson, and Shakur's entourage at the MGM Grand.
While prosecutors do not allege Davis fired the fatal shots, they contend that under Nevada law, he can be convicted as an accomplice for orchestrating the killing. Davis is reportedly the only surviving individual who was inside the Cadillac at the time of the incident.
The defense, led by attorney Michael Sanft, has argued that Davis's statements were exaggerated for financial gain and lack supporting evidence. Sanft has highlighted the absence of physical evidence, such as phone records or receipts, directly linking Davis to the crime. Investigators noted a Las Vegas hotel bill found at Davis's residence, though its date and current location were unclear.
Shakur was shot on September 7, 1996, as he waited at a red light on the Las Vegas Strip. A white Cadillac pulled alongside his vehicle, and occupants fired shots. Shakur died six days later from his injuries. Suge Knight, co-founder of Death Row Records, was also injured in the attack but survived.
Gang rivalry between the South Side Compton Crips, associated with Davis, and the Mob Piru, linked to Death Row Records, was presented by prosecution witnesses, including a gang expert who described Davis as a figure of authority within his gang.
Prosecutors acknowledged that evidence from the 1990s differs from contemporary law enforcement collection methods. Surveillance footage from the MGM Grand showing a physical confrontation between Shakur's entourage and Davis's nephew was presented as evidence.