The legal proceedings against Duane “Keffe D” Davis are scheduled to commence this Monday in Las Vegas, marking a significant development in one of the most high-profile cold cases in music history. Tupac Shakur was fatally wounded in a drive-by shooting on September 7, 1996, and succumbed to his injuries six days later. For years, the investigation remained stalled, but the case gained new momentum following a search warrant executed at Davis's residence in 2023.

Davis, who has previously identified himself as a member of the South Side Compton Crips, was arrested in September 2023 and charged with murder with the use of a deadly weapon. Prosecutors allege that Davis orchestrated the plan to kill Shakur and Marion “Suge” Knight in retaliation for a confrontation that occurred earlier that evening at the MGM Grand hotel. Davis has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

While the prosecution intends to rely on Davis’s own past admissions—where he claimed to be the “shot caller” in the vehicle—the defense is expected to argue that these statements were made for entertainment purposes or to gain notoriety. The trial is expected to draw significant public and media attention due to the cultural impact of the victim and the long duration of the investigation. As the trial begins, the court will focus on whether the evidence gathered over the last 30 years is sufficient to secure a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt.