Jury deliberations begin in trial of man accused in Tupac Shakur murder

Key Points:

• Jurors began deliberations in the first-degree murder trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis, charged with orchestrating the 1996 drive-by shooting that killed rapper Tupac Shakur, with prosecutors relying heavily on Davis’ own statements placing him in the getaway car.
• Prosecutors argued Davis acquired the gun and planned the attack in retaliation for a fight involving his nephew, emphasizing consistent details in Davis’ accounts despite evolving narratives over time.
• Davis’ defense challenged the prosecution to provide evidence beyond his statements, highlighting the absence of surveillance footage, phone records, or other proof placing Davis in Las Vegas or the white Cadillac on the night of the shooting.
• The trial, involving testimony from 24 prosecution and three defense witnesses, underscores longstanding gang rivalries linked to the case and relies on decades-old evidence, complicated by the passage of time and the death of other suspects.
• Prosecutors maintain that Davis is criminally responsible for the murder as the person who provided the gun and ordered the attack, while the defense disputes his presence and involvement, making this a pivotal moment in a nearly 30-year-old case.