Tupac Shakur murder suspect had ‘visceral anger’ at legendary hip-hop artist over family beef: prosecutors

The trial for the sole suspect charged in Tupac Shakur’s 1996 slaying kicked off Monday – and prosecutors alleged the now 63-year-old man ordered the hit on the legendary rapper as an “act of revenge.”

Duane Davis allegedly orchestrated the deadly drive-by shooting in Las Vegas after his nephew was purportedly attacked by Shakur and his pals, prosecutors argued in opening statements.

Duane Davis appears in court with his attorney Michael Sanft at Clark County District Court Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, Monday, August 17, 2026. Steve Marcus/POOL Reuters via AP

Davis is on trial for murder related to the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur. Steve Marcus/POOL Reuters via AP

Davis’ defense claimed there was no merit to allegations that the suspect was responsible for the legendary rapper’s slaying in 1996.

Prosecutors have not accused Davis of pulling the trigger, but claim he supplied the murder weapon.

Davis, prosecutors allege, was full of “visceral anger,” which boiled over when Tupac and his crew allegedly beat up Davis’ nephew while he was in town for a Mike Tyson fight.

“Dwane Davis did not pull the trigger, but what he did do was plan the retaliation for the beating of his nephew,” a prosecutor told the jury.