Tupac Shakur's 1996 Las Vegas Shooting Marked by 29th Anniversary and Ongoing Murder Trial

Las Vegas, NV – Twenty-nine years ago today, on September 7, 1996, iconic rapper Tupac Shakur was shot in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. He succumbed to his injuries six days later, on September 13, 1996, at the age of 25, leaving behind one of hip-hop's most enduring unsolved mysteries. The anniversary arrives as the only suspect ever charged in the case, Duane "Keefe D" Davis, awaits trial, which has recently been delayed to February 2026.

The fatal incident occurred after Shakur, then 25, attended a Mike Tyson boxing match at the MGM Grand. While riding in a black BMW with Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight, their vehicle was stopped at a red light on East Flamingo Road and Koval Lane when a white Cadillac pulled alongside and opened fire. Shakur was struck four times, including twice in the chest, with one bullet entering his right lung.

In the hours leading up to the shooting, tensions escalated when Shakur and his entourage were involved in an altercation with Orlando Anderson, a Southside Compton Crip, in the MGM Grand lobby. Although Anderson was never charged and was later killed in an unrelated gang shooting in 1998, investigators have long connected him to the events. The case remained cold for decades, plagued by conflicting witness statements and allegations of mishandled evidence.

A significant breakthrough came in September 2023, when Duane "Keefe D" Davis, Anderson's uncle, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors allege that Davis, a self-proclaimed former gang leader, orchestrated the shooting and provided the weapon. Davis had previously detailed his involvement in interviews and in his memoir, "Compton Street Legend," statements that investigators cited as crucial to his indictment.

Davis pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and has been held without bail. His defense team recently secured a postponement of the trial from March 2025 to February 9, 2026, citing the need for more time to interview new witnesses and investigate claims that someone else may have orchestrated the killing. This delay underscores the complexity of the nearly three-decade-old case.

Tupac Shakur's influence on music, culture, and activism continues to resonate globally. As the legal proceedings against Davis unfold, the hip-hop community and fans worldwide continue to seek closure for the untimely death of a generational talent.