Jury Seated In Tupac Shakur Murder Case; Trial Opens Monday
A 16-member jury was seated Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Las Vegas in the murder trial of Duane "Keffe D" Davis; opening statements are expected Monday.[1]
The panel includes six men and ten women, with four jurors serving as alternates.[2] During voir dire, potential jurors were asked about their views on gangs, whether they had listened to Tupac Shakur's music, and their favorite books and movies.[2] Prosecutors told jurors they plan to call between 35 and 45 witnesses, including associates of both Shakur and Davis, and that they do not plan to call Sean "Diddy" Combs.[2]
Prosecutors allege Davis, now 63, was the "shot caller" who orchestrated the Sept. 7, 1996 shooting, supplied the gun and is the only surviving person from the car where the shots allegedly came from.[2]
Defense efforts to exclude Davis's 2019 book "Compton Street Legend" and a 2008 law-enforcement interview were rejected; the judge ruled both may be admitted despite defense claims they were fictionalized or confidential.[2] Suge Knight is serving a 28-year sentence for a 2015 killing in Compton.[2] He is one of two surviving people who were in the BMW with Shakur and could be called as a witness, though he has said he wants no role in the trial.[2]
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📌 Key Facts
- A 16-member jury was seated Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Las Vegas — six men and ten women, with four jurors serving as alternates (16-member jury).
- During voir dire, potential jurors were asked about their views on gangs, whether they had listened to Tupac Shakur's music, and their favorite books and movies (voir dire).
- Prosecutors say Duane "Keffe D" Davis, now 63, is alleged to have been the "shot caller" who orchestrated the Sept. 7, 1996 shooting, supplied the gun and is the only surviving person from the car where the shots allegedly came from (Duane "Keffe D" Davis).
- The court denied defense efforts to exclude Davis's 2019 book and a 2008 law-enforcement interview — the judge ruled that the book "Compton Street Legend" and the interview may be admitted into evidence despite defense arguments they were fictionalized or confidential (Compton Street Legend).
- Prosecutors expect to call between 35 and 45 witnesses, including associates of both Shakur and Davis and people who saw Shakur shortly before the shooting, but they do not plan to call Sean "Diddy" Combs despite prior allegations by Davis (between 35 and 45 witnesses).
- Suge Knight, serving a 28-year sentence for a 2015 killing in Compton, is one of two surviving people who were in the BMW with Shakur during the attack and could be called as a witness, though he has repeatedly said he wants no role in the trial (Suge Knight).
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Article confirms that the 16-member jury seated Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Las Vegas consists of six men and ten women, with four jurors serving as alternates.
- During voir dire, potential jurors were questioned about their views on gangs and whether they had listened to Tupac Shakur's music, as well as their favorite books and movies.
- Prosecutors reiterated that Duane 'Keffe D' Davis, now 63, is alleged to have been the 'shot caller' who orchestrated the Sept. 7, 1996 shooting, supplied the gun, and is the only surviving person from the car where the shots allegedly came from.
- Defense efforts to exclude Davis's 2019 book 'Compton Street Legend' and his 2008 law-enforcement interview from the trial were unsuccessful; the court will allow both into evidence despite arguments that the book was fictionalized and that the interview was supposed to be confidential.
- Prosecutors expect to call between 35 and 45 witnesses, including associates of both Shakur and Davis and people who saw Shakur shortly before the shooting; they do not plan to call Sean 'Diddy' Combs, whom Davis has previously claimed wanted Shakur and Suge Knight dead.
- Suge Knight, serving a 28-year sentence for a 2015 killing in Compton, is one of only two surviving people who were in the BMW with Shakur during the attack and could be called as a witness, though he has repeatedly said he wants no role in the trial.