Judge reschedules trial for suspect in Tupac Shakur’s 1996 killing to next year
Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis has been rescheduled until February 9 2026.
A Nevada judge on Tuesday postponed the murder trial of the only suspect ever charged in the 1996 killing of rap icon Tupac Shakur for nearly a year, saying she had little choice given new developments presented by his defence attorneys and the need to ensure a fair trial.
The trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis, previously set for next month in Las Vegas, has been rescheduled for February 9 2026.
The judge ordered prosecutors and the defence to return to court over the summer for a status hearing.
When asked by the judge if he was OK with moving the trial that far out, Davis agreed.
Davis’ defence team filed a motion on Friday seeking more time, saying critical investigative work had to be done and witnesses needed to be interviewed to ensure he gets a fair trial.
The lawyers said a private investigator identified witnesses who could testify that Davis was not at the scene of the shooting.
Attorney Carl Arnold, who is leading the defence, said the case involves decades-old allegations and critical facts have yet to be fully examined.
On the night of September 7 1996, Shakur was in a BMW being driven by Death Row Records founder Marion “Suge” Knight.
They were waiting at a red light when a white Cadillac pulled up next to them and gunfire erupted.
Davis has acknowledged in interviews and in his tell-all memoir that he provided the gun used in the drive-by shooting and that he was in the car, but court filings say his descriptions in recent years of orchestrating the shooting were “done for entertainment purposes and to make money”.
Arnold has argued that Davis never should have been charged because of immunity agreements that Davis says he reached years ago with federal and local prosecutors while living in California.
Prosecutors disagree, saying they have strong evidence against Davis and that any immunity agreement was limited.
Defence lawyers also are raising questions about the manner of Shakur’s death, saying they have witness information indicating that he was in stable condition after the shooting and died suddenly after being admitted to hospital for a week.
They want to consult medical and forensic experts to evaluate potential alternative causes of death.
