Tupac Shakur murder trial begins: What to know ahead of opening statements

Key Points:

• The trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the only person charged in connection with Tupac Shakur’s 1996 murder, is set to begin with opening statements at the Clark County courthouse in Las Vegas, nearly 30 years after the shooting.
• Davis, a former Los Angeles gang leader, was arrested in September 2023 and charged with murder and gang-related offenses; he has pleaded not guilty and denies being present at the crime scene despite previous admissions in interviews and a memoir.
• Prosecutors allege Davis orchestrated the murder as retaliation for a fight involving his nephew, and although he did not fire the fatal shot, he was the "shot caller" directing the attack on Shakur and Marion “Suge” Knight, the only surviving eyewitness who refuses to cooperate.
• The trial will feature testimony from original investigators and alleged members of Davis’ crew, as well as an expert on false confessions, while the jury will be instructed to set aside prior knowledge given Tupac’s high-profile status.
• If convicted, Davis faces a potential life sentence; the verdict could coincide with the 30th anniversary of Shakur’s death, underscoring the enduring cultural and legal significance of the case amid longstanding East-West Coast rap rivalries.