Tupac autopsy photos shown as trial of alleged mastermind opens

LAS VEGAS — The trial of Duane "Keffe D" Davis, the man accused of orchestrating the 1996 drive-by shooting that killed Tupac Shakur, continued Tuesday with graphic testimony from a forensic pathologist. Some of Shakur's family members left the courtroom as prosecutors displayed autopsy photographs from the rapper's death.

Dr. Lisa Gavin, a Clark County medical examiner, testified that a bullet entered Shakur's chest near his armpit, traveled through a lung, and caused it to collapse and bleed. Doctors removed the damaged lung in an attempt to save his life, but Shakur died at a hospital six days after the shooting. Additional bullets damaged his intestines and other organs, Gavin said.

The photos, which were not shown on the trial's video feed, depicted a green body bag and Shakur's body. Relatives who remained in the courtroom looked away, and one woman left when the images appeared.

Gavin, who was not present at the original autopsy, was called as an expert because the examiner from 30 years ago has since died. Davis sat quietly, occasionally whispering to his attorney, as the pathologist explained the wounds.

In opening statements Monday, Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal told jurors that Davis "did not pull the trigger" but planned the shooting in retaliation for a beating his nephew suffered. Palal said Davis admitted his role in interviews and in his 2019 memoir, "Compton Street Legend."

Defense attorney Michael Sanft called the prosecution's narrative "fiction," arguing that law enforcement never charged Davis earlier because they knew he was "full of crap." Sanft also said the 30-year gap would make witness recollections unreliable.

Davis, 63, has pleaded not guilty to murder with a deadly weapon and could face life in prison if convicted. The shooting occurred hours after Shakur's entourage attacked Davis's nephew, Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson, outside a boxing match at the MGM Grand. Shakur was riding in a BMW with Marion "Suge" Knight when a white Cadillac pulled alongside and opened fire.

Jurors also heard from a retired Las Vegas police officer who said Shakur, when asked who shot him, replied something like "no, we'll take care of it." A former detective testified that investigators identified Davis and others through informants but lacked willing witnesses. Another former LAPD detective said Davis was briefly a suspect in the 1997 killing of the Notorious B.I.G., but was later ruled out.

Shakur, who died at 25, remains one of hip-hop's most influential figures.