LAS VEGAS — A group of six men and ten women were chosen on Thursday to deliberate over the case of a former gang leader accused of orchestrating the murder of Tupac Shakur nearly three decades ago, a case that remains a defining moment in hip-hop history.
The murder trial, set in Las Vegas, is expected to begin with opening statements on Monday.
For years, the family and fans of the iconic rapper have awaited answers about the tragic 1996 drive-by shooting that claimed Shakur’s life while he was at the zenith of his career.
At just 25, Shakur was gunned down near the bustling Las Vegas Strip during a turbulent period marked by heated rivalries in a music industry heavily influenced by gang tensions.
Three years ago, authorities charged Duane “Keffe D” Davis with murder, labeling him as the mastermind behind the assassination. Davis, who has denied the charges, faces a potential life sentence if convicted.
Sixteen jurors were picked for the trial, which is expected to last about a month. During the selection process, potential jurors were asked about their favorite books and movies, if they had any strong feelings about gangs, and whether they had listened to Shakur’s music.
Shakur still is considered one of the most influential rappers of all time. With hits like “California Love” and “Dear Mama,” more than 75 million of his records have been sold worldwide, including seven albums released after his death.
He was in the passenger seat of a BMW driven by Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight on Sept. 7, 1996, when shots were fired from a Cadillac at a red light. Knight survived but Shakur died six days later.
Prosecutors have not accused Davis, now 63, of pulling the trigger that night, instead saying that he made the calls that led to Shakur’s death and provided the gun.
In Nevada, a person can be convicted of murder for helping another person commit the crime.
Davis is the only person still alive who was in the car where prosecutors said the fatal shots originated.
The case against Davis was revived when Davis published the book “Compton Street Legend,” about the shooting and his time in the Crips, in 2019 as well as his statements during police and media interviews.
Davis’ attorneys unsuccessfully fought to block from the trial details written in the book and said during a 2008 police interview. They argued the book was fictionalized and had a co-author, making it impossible to know which parts Davis wrote.
They also argued Davis’ previous interview with a federal task force was supposed to be confidential and not used against him.
Among those who could be called to testify in the trial is Knight, the rap music mogul whose label represented Shakur. He continually has said that he wants no part in the trial.
Knight, who is serving a 28-year sentence for running over and killing a Compton businessman in 2015, is the only surviving person who was in the car with Shakur at the time of the shooting.
Prosecutors expect to call between 35 and 45 witnesses, ranging from people who saw Shakur moments before he was shot to those who were associates of both Shakur and Davis at the time. Sean “Diddy” Combs, who Davis claimed wanted Shakur and Knight dead, will not be one of those witnesses, attorneys said.
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