Las Vegas – The murder trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis, accused of killing rapper Tupac Shakur in September 1996, entered a dramatic second day as prosecutors introduced autopsy photographs and called two former security figures for Death Row Records to the stand.
Former security chief refuses to cooperate
James McDonald, a former associate of Death Row founder Marion “Suge” Knight and a self‑described “hostile witness,” testified under court summons. McDonald, now a 61‑year‑old grandfather, said he ran security at Knight’s Las Vegas Club 662 on the night Shakur was shot. He described the constant threat of violence that accompanies gang life, noting that tensions between the Crips and Bloods often erupted into open conflict.
When asked if he recalled any specific violent incidents, McDonald replied, “Are you serious? Don’t ask me that right here.” He added that neighborhoods meeting each other “had a lot of tension.” Although he did not see the shooting, McDonald said his brother Alton “Buntry” McDonald was involved in a separate gang incident that night, and that members of his gang expected immediate retaliation for the attack on Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, the nephew of the accused Davis.
Security officer testifies from an electric scooter
Reggie Wright, Jr., who served as the official head of Death Row security while also working as a sworn police officer in Compton, California, took the stand from an electric scooter due to lingering effects of long‑COVID. Wright confirmed that his security duties differed from McDonald’s informal gang‑related protection work. He recalled assigning an additional guard to Shakur after the release of the diss track “Hit ‘Em Up,” which targeted Bad Boy Records and its founder Sean “Puffy” Combs.
Wright said the extra guard failed to appear on the night of the murder, leaving Knight and Shakur alone in their black BMW. When prosecutors asked whether he had any involvement in the killing, Wright answered unequivocally, “Absolutely not.”
Prosecutors present graphic autopsy images
Before witness testimony, prosecutors showed jurors a series of autopsy photographs taken shortly after Shakur’s death. The images displayed medical tubes still attached to his face, a large bullet wound under his right armpit, sutures across his chest where a severely damaged lung had been removed, and additional wounds to his thigh and buttock. The famous “Thug Life” tattoo on his chest was also visible.
Shakur’s sister Sekyiwa and stepbrother Mopreme left the courtroom before the photos were displayed, while family friend Tuere Burns covered her eyes and exited shortly after the first images appeared. The defense team and the accused showed no visible reaction.
Emotions run high on the stand
McDonald grew visibly angry when pressed for details about other individuals present at Club 662. He told defense attorney Michael Sanft, “I’m not finna send him to prison. You are!” and later apologized for “getting personal” after the testimony concluded.
Both witnesses emphasized the broader context of a West‑Coast rap‑industry rivalry that reignited a cold war between the Crips and Bloods. McDonald linked the feud to Bad Boy Records and the “Hit ‘Em Up” track, while Wright noted the subsequent unsolved killing of Christopher “Biggie Smalls” Wallace six months later.
Trial continues
The case remains pending as the jury reviews the graphic evidence and conflicting testimonies. Prosecutors maintain that Davis obtained the weapon used in the shooting and that the murder was part of a tit‑for‑tat exchange of gang violence. The defense continues to deny any involvement by Wright or other Death Row personnel.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
