Beatles‑sharpshooter crime in 1996 still stirs the streets. Duane "Keffe D" Davis, 63, the former king of a notorious African‑American street gang in Oakland, faces a Las Vegas trial on a murder charge that cites a drive‑by shooting killing rap superstar Tupac Shakur.
The jury will hear evidence that Davis fired a single gunshot from inside a vehicle as the soundtrack of violence rolled across a street in the city of the Arts. He has pleaded not guilty, arguing he never had anything to do with the 7 September 1996 homicide.
Police and prosecutors say that the 1996 shooting was the work of gang retaliation and that Davis was the main conspirator that drove the crime from “outside.” He served a 25‑year sentence in California for gun‑related offenses before his release in 2019.
The case will be heard in 2026, a first‑time forensic search team will present evidence, and the prosecutor will argue that the charge was made to help the investigation successfully. The outcome may shed light on the cause behind the tragedy that was not finalised until 2026.
BBC journalist Anoushka Mutanda‑Dougherty breaks down why Davis is still the key suspect in court. Official details are highlighted, and he holds the power to influence a trial that may examine whether Davis was accountable for the murder. You can watch the BBC‑provided video or find more details here.
