LAS VEGAS — Graphic autopsy photographs of Tupac Shakur were displayed in a Las Vegas courtroom on Thursday during the murder trial of Duane "Keffe D" Davis, the only person ever charged in the rapper's 1996 killing. The images, which showed the severity of Shakur's injuries, prompted some of his family members to leave the courtroom, according to witnesses present.
Autopsy Photos Presented as Evidence
The prosecution introduced the autopsy photographs as part of its case against Davis, 61, who is charged with murder with use of a deadly weapon in the drive-by shooting that killed Shakur on September 7, 1996. Shakur was 25 years old when he was shot multiple times in a BMW while stopped at a red light near the Las Vegas Strip. He died six days later in a hospital.
The images, described as graphic and difficult to view, showed the gunshot wounds to Shakur's chest, abdomen, and thigh. Several family members, including Shakur's sister Sekyiwa "Set" Shakur, left the courtroom when the photos were projected onto a large screen. They returned after a brief recess.
Trial Background and Defendant's Claim
Davis, a former South Side Compton Crips gang leader, was arrested in September 2023 and has pleaded not guilty. He is the only person charged in the case, which had remained unsolved for nearly three decades. Davis has admitted in interviews and in his 2019 memoir that he was in the car from which the fatal shots were fired, but he claims he did not pull the trigger.
Prosecutors allege Davis orchestrated the shooting in retaliation for a fight earlier that night involving his nephew, Orlando Anderson, and Shakur. Anderson, who was named by Davis as the gunman, died in 1998. Davis's defense attorney, Carl Arnold, has argued that the prosecution's case relies on Davis's own admissions, which were made for entertainment and book sales, and that there is no physical evidence linking him to the shooting.
Family Reaction and Legal Proceedings
The testimony came on the second day of witness testimony. Shakur's family members, who have attended the trial, have remained largely silent, but their reaction to the autopsy photos underscored the emotional weight of the evidence. The trial is expected to last several weeks, with prosecutors planning to call more witnesses, including former investigators and eyewitnesses.
The case has drawn widespread attention, as Shakur remains one of the most influential figures in hip-hop history, with over 75 million records sold worldwide. His murder has been the subject of numerous documentaries and investigations, but this trial marks the first time anyone has faced prosecution for it. A conviction could result in a sentence of 20 years to life in prison.
