The decades-long mystery surrounding the murder of Tupac Shakur was seemingly on the verge of resolution with the 2023 arrest of reputed Southside Crip Duane “Keefe D” Davis. However, the trial is now facing a significant delay due to newly presented evidence that could alter the case’s trajectory.
Initially set to begin next month, Davis’ trial has been pushed to February 2026 after his defense attorneys introduced evidence suggesting he was not in Las Vegas at the time of the 1996 drive-by shooting that claimed the rap legend’s life. Clark County Judge Carli Kierny granted the postponement on Tuesday, citing the defense’s need for additional preparation time.
“It looks like there are quite a few things that are left to be done to get this case prepared so that Mr. Davis can have effective assistance of counsel,” Judge Kierny stated during the hearing, per ABC News.
Davis, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder and gang enhancement charges, continues to assert his innocence. His attorney, Carl Arnold, argued in a recent filing that a private investigator had uncovered several witnesses whose testimony contradicted the prosecution’s account of events. The defense maintains that former Death Row Records security employee Reggie Wright Jr. and his team were responsible for Shakur’s death—not Davis.
Wright, however, has vehemently denied any involvement. Speaking to ABC News, he dismissed the allegations, stating, “Good luck finding someone saying that, that’s credible. It’s heartbreaking they keep dragging in my name. I didn’t have anything to do with that. One of the worst days of my life was when I heard that that happened.”
The case remains one of hip-hop’s most infamous unsolved murders. On the night of September 7, 1996, a white Cadillac carrying four men pulled up alongside Suge Knight’s BMW at a red light in Las Vegas. Gunfire erupted from the Cadillac, riddling the passenger side of the vehicle with bullets. Shakur, who was sitting in the passenger seat, was struck four times, including at least twice in the chest.
With the trial now delayed until 2026, those seeking closure in Tupac’s murder will have to wait even longer to see if the case is indeed solved.