Tupac trial opens with testimony on 1996 shooting’s black arm

The murder trial of rapper Tupac Shakur began with opening statements this week, placing Duane "Keffe D" Davis at the center of a case built largely on his own admissions over nearly three decades. The proceedings in Las Vegas, which formally commenced with prosecutor Binu Palal presenting the state's case on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, revisit the September 7, 1996, drive-by shooting that killed the iconic musician and remains a pivotal moment in hip-hop history.

Shakur was shot while riding in a car driven by Marion "Suge" Knight on the Las Vegas Strip following a Mike Tyson fight. He died six days later at age 25. Davis is charged with murder, accused of orchestrating the shooting as retaliation for a fight involving his nephew earlier that night. Prosecutors allege Davis provided the firearm used in the attack and that his nephew, the late Orlando Anderson, fired the fatal shots from a white Cadillac.

The state's case leans heavily on Davis's own accounts given to law enforcement and the public. According to reporting from court, Davis spoke with investigators in 1998, 1999, 2008, and 2009 under an agreement that initially protected him from prosecution. He also detailed his...