Tupac autopsy shown as prosecutor calls 1996 killing revenge
Prosecutors told a Las Vegas jury that Tupac Shakur's September 7, 1996 murder was an "act of revenge" after his entourage beat Duane "Keffe D" Davis' nephew at the MGM Grand. On the trial's second day, forensic testimony about the Tupac autopsy confirmed Shakur died from gunshot wounds in a homicide as the accused mastermind's case moved forward.
Opening statements began Monday in Clark County District Court in the long-awaited trial of Duane "Keffe D" Davis, 63, who is charged with murder with a deadly weapon with intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang. Davis pleaded not guilty and faces life in prison if convicted.
Key Takeaways
- Chief Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal told jurors Davis planned the drive-by shooting in retaliation for the beating of his nephew, Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson, roughly two and a half hours earlier.
- Forensic pathologist Dr. Lisa Gavin testified that Shakur died from gunshot wounds; crime scene analyst Thomas Kern described evidence collected during the Tupac autopsy.
- Davis' defense called the prosecution narrative "fiction" and argued his memoir was written for money, not truth.
- Police responded to a reported shooting near the courthouse Tuesday as Shakur's family left for lunch; officers found no victims.
- Prosecutors plan to call 35 to 45 witnesses; the trial could span several weeks.
What Did Prosecutors Tell the Jury About Tupac's Murder?
Palal showed jurors footage of Shakur's entourage attacking Anderson after the Mike Tyson fight on September 7, 1996. He said Davis did not pull the trigger but handed a gun to someone in the back seat of a white Cadillac and ordered the shooting.
"Remarkably, you will learn that from Duane Davis himself," Palal told the jury, citing the defendant's statements to investigators, a 2019 memoir titled "Compton Street Legend," and media interviews.
Davis spoke to investigators in 2008 under an agreement that his statements could not be used against him. Prosecutors say his later book and public comments revived the Las Vegas investigation and became key evidence. For more breaking legal and financial news, see our Fintech & Crypto Alerts hub.
What Did the Tupac Autopsy Reveal at Trial?
On Tuesday, testimony shifted from opening statements to physical evidence. Thomas Kern, a retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police crime scene analyst, described his role collecting and documenting evidence connected to Shakur's autopsy, including photographs and evidence bags.
Dr. Lisa Gavin, a Clark County forensic pathologist, reviewed autopsy photographs and concluded Shakur's death was a homicide caused by gunshot wounds to his chest and abdomen. She said one bullet was removed while Shakur was hospitalized and another recovered during the autopsy.
Under cross-examination, Gavin noted she was forming opinions from available records and photographs rather than critiquing the original examiner, Dr. Jordan, who has since died. When jurors asked whether Shakur was shot in the head, she said no.
What Happened Outside the Las Vegas Courthouse?
As the trial entered its second day, reports of gunfire near the Regional Justice Center drew a heavy police response. According to People.com, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police responded around 1 p.m. Tuesday to the 500 block of Casino Center Boulevard after dispatchers received reports of shots heard inside a nearby Starbucks.
The incident occurred roughly as members of Shakur's family left the courthouse for a lunch break. Officers found no victims at the scene, and the Davis trial continued without interruption.
How Is the Defense Challenging the Case?
Defense attorney Michael Sanft told jurors the state's story is "fiction" and questioned why Davis was not charged years earlier. He argued no one corroborates the prosecution's account and that the memoir may blend fact with exaggeration.
Sanft also criticized investigative gaps, missing documents, and what he called biased detective work. Davis recently told Fox 5 he was not in Las Vegas the night Shakur was shot, contradicting details in his book.
Former Death Row Records security chief Reggie Wright Jr. testified Tuesday he had nothing to do with Shakur's murder, denying theories linking him to the killing. Retired officer Garry Dale recalled asking Shakur in an ambulance who shot him; the rapper replied, "No, we'll take care of it." Details of the prosecution's opening statements are documented by CBS News.