For nearly three decades, the killing of rap icon Tupac Shakur has remained unsolved. Now, former gang leader Duane “Keffe D” Davis is set to stand trial in Las Vegas, bringing renewed attention to the 1996 drive-by shooting that shocked the music world. Jury selection in the case began on August 10, with opening arguments due to start on August 17.
Shakur was 25 and at the height of his fame when he was fatally shot on September 7, 1996. Authorities allege Davis helped orchestrate the attack following a confrontation between rival gangs, although he is not accused of being the gunman. Davis has pleaded not guilty and says another passenger in his car opened fire.
The case resurfaced after Davis discussed the killing publicly in a 2018 documentary and later detailed the events in his 2019 memoir. Prosecutors say his own statements helped revive the investigation.
“If you help somebody commit a crime, you can be equally as guilty,” said Steve Wolfson, Clark County District Attorney, when charges were announced in 2023.
Indeed, Tupac’s death has remained one of hip-hop’s most enduring mysteries, amplified by his enormous influence and the circumstances surrounding his killing. When it comes to celebrity deaths, public fascination can turn unanswered questions into lasting legends. Click through the following gallery to discover some mysterious celebrity deaths that police were never able to explain.