Story perspectives

Keffe D Begins Tupac Murder Trial, Pleads Not Guilty

8/6/2026

Summary

Keffe D Trial

Duane “Keffe D” Davis, Crips leader, began his Aug. 10, 2026 Las Vegas trial on a murder charge, pleading not guilty.
Prosecutors say Davis orchestrated the Sept. 7, 1996 drive-by that killed Tupac Shakur, wounded Suge Knight, as retaliation for an assault on nephew Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, citing his memoir, a 2008 police interview and witnesses.
Grand-jury testimony named Deandre “Big Dre” Smith as shooter and said Davis was the sole Cadillac survivor.

Summary

Court Allocates Seats

The Eighth Judicial District Court will allocate main-courtroom seats for the Tupac murder trial by lottery.
Judge Carli Kierny said Davis could be released on bail and that bail would not affect the trial’s evidence or conduct.
A hearing will decide whether Davis’s 2008 police interview under immunity bars his later public statements, a point contested by prosecutor Binu Palal and defense lawyer Michael Sanft.

History

Historical Context

From the eight-month, highly televised O.J. Simpson murder trial (Jan 24 – Oct 3 1995) in Los Angeles County Superior Court, where prosecutors Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden faced the celebrity “Dream Team” and a jury that watched an estimated 100 million people, the case highlighted racial tension, DNA-evidence doubts, and media sway—issues that echo in later high-profile homicide prosecutions.

1 of 3

Keffe D Trial

Duane “Keffe D” Davis, Crips leader, began his Aug. 10, 2026 Las Vegas trial on a murder charge, pleading not guilty.
Prosecutors say Davis orchestrated the Sept. 7, 1996 drive-by that killed Tupac Shakur, wounded Suge Knight, as retaliation for an assault on nephew Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, citing his memoir, a 2008 police interview and witnesses.
Grand-jury testimony named Deandre “Big Dre” Smith as shooter and said Davis was the sole Cadillac survivor.

1 / 3