Nearly three decades after Tupac Shakur was fatally shot in Las Vegas, a trial has begun for Duane "Keffe" Davis, accused of orchestrating the rapper's 1996 murder. For Tupac's stepbrother, Mopreme Shakur, this moment is a long-overdue step towards justice.
"Thirty years," Mopreme Shakur told the Daily Mail, reflecting on the passage of time since his stepbrother was gunned down. He expressed cautious optimism, stating, "Hopefully, Pac will see just a smidgen of justice." Mopreme was present in court as prosecutors presented their case against Davis, a 63-year-old known drug dealer and Crips gang leader.
Prosecutors allege that Davis orchestrated the drive-by shooting as retaliation for Tupac Shakur's physical altercation with Davis's nephew, Orlando Anderson, following a Mike Tyson fight in Las Vegas. Tupac Shakur was traveling in a vehicle driven by Suge Knight, the head of his record label, Death Row Records, at the time of the shooting. Davis was one of four individuals in the car that pulled alongside Knight's vehicle. He is the only survivor among them; Anderson was himself shot and killed in 1998 at the age of 23.
"Duane Davis did not pull the trigger, but what he did do is plan the retaliation for the beating of his nephew," stated chief deputy district attorney Binu Palal during his opening remarks to the jury. Palal indicated that evidence would show Davis obtained the firearm, was present in the vehicle, and ensured the shooter was armed and ready to carry out the act, information purportedly revealed by Davis himself.
Davis was arrested in 2023, following his discussion of the shooting in a 2018 documentary and a 2019 memoir where he described providing a gun to another individual in the car to fire upon Shakur. Knight, the only other surviving occupant of the involved vehicles, has declined to testify, citing his ongoing imprisonment for a 2015 murder conviction. Mopreme Shakur characterized Knight's refusal as typical of gang behavior.
Prosecutors also noted that Davis had previously claimed, in a 2008 recording, that Sean "Diddy" Combs, then head of rival record company Bad Boy Records, offered him $1 million to kill Tupac Shakur. Combs has consistently denied these allegations. Davis's defense team is expected to argue that their client fabricated parts of his account for financial gain.
Mopreme Shakur reflected on the violence that permeated their lives as young Black men in America, acknowledging that a violent death was always a possibility. He described his stepbrother as fearless and possessing a strong will, noting that Tupac himself admitted to having a "big mouth" and being ready to defend himself.
The brothers shared a close bond, despite periods of separation during their youth. Mopreme, born Maurice Harding, reconnected with Tupac in California after completing a stint in the army. They bonded over their shared interest in music and the arts, with Mopreme recalling them as "theater geeks" who would sing along to musical soundtracks. Mopreme, who had achieved some musical success himself, put his solo career on hold to support Tupac.
He described Tupac as a creative genius who cared deeply about his community and championed young people, believing their ideas were often overlooked. This advocacy, Mopreme suggested, is why Tupac remains beloved today. He also addressed the misconception that Tupac was an undisciplined figure, stating that at 20, wearing the crown of a superstar, his actions were shaped by his youth and the immense pressures he faced.
Mopreme acknowledged Tupac's temper and chaotic nature but maintained his brother's efforts were largely aimed at supporting young Black males and their communities. He contrasted Tupac's engagement with the "hood" and his willingness to address people with other entertainers who did not.
Regarding Tupac's potential if he were alive today, Mopreme speculated he would be involved in international community aid, though he doubted Tupac's patience for a legal career. Mopreme himself continues to create music and documentaries about his family's story, driven by a sense of responsibility to his brother and to their associates, many of whom have also died prematurely.
Tupac Shakur died on September 13, 1996, six days after being shot. He was 25 years old. His mother, Afeni Shakur, died in 2016, and his stepfather, Mutulu Shakur, passed away in 2023 after serving a prison sentence.