The trial regarding the death of Tupac Shakur took a significant turn on Thursday as jurors in a Las Vegas courtroom heard a recorded police interview with Duane “Keffe D” Davis from 2008. Davis’ defense attorney had previously dismissed his client’s public admissions as “bullsh-t.” However, the audio recording provided a detailed account that aligned with the story Davis shared in his own memoir, with some key differences. According to CNN, the courtroom atmosphere was heavy as the jury watched a transcript of the 2008 interview scroll across a screen while listening to a younger Davis recount the events of the September 1996 shooting of Tupac Shakur. Davis, 63, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder with a deadly weapon and spent the majority of the day observing his own voice from the past. The 2008 interview was reportedly conducted by Los Angeles Police Department detectives Greg Kading and Daryn Dupree as part of a proffer agreement during an investigation into the death of Chris Wallace, also known as The Notorious B.I.G. While Greg Kading told Davis, “Nothing you say can be used against you,” prosecutors argue that this protection was voided when Davis later published his 2019 memoir, Compton Street Legend. A detailed testimony According to the BBC, prosecutors are arguing in this trial that Davis did not personally fire the fatal shots. Instead, they are alleging that he orchestrated the attack and provided the weapon to further the criminal goals of his gang. In the recording, Davis reportedly described how he and his crew, including his nephew Orlando Anderson, Deandre Smith, and driver Terrence Brown, were searching for Tupac and Suge Knight. Jurors on Thursday heard Duane “Keffe D” Davis tell detectives in 2008 that his nephew Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson fired the shots that killed Tupac Shakur. It was the first time Davis directly discussed his involvement in the killing with authorities. https://t.co/XBMlzfGFXw— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 21, 2026 Per the outlet, they were looking for them following a fight at the MGM Grand involving Anderson and individuals associated with Knight’s record company, Death Row Records. After catching sight of Shakur and Suge Knight in a car, Davis explained that his vehicle pulled up alongside them. Per CNN, Davis told investigators, “If we would have been on my side, I would have blasted.” Because the car was positioned on the other side, he claimed that he handed the gun to Smith, who refused it. “I gave it to Dre, and Dre was like, ‘No, no, no,’” Davis said in the recording. “And Lane’s like, ‘Give it here.’ He popped it to him.” The testimony in the recording contrasts with the version of events in Davis’ book with two major differences. According to CNN, in Compton Street Legend, Davis claimed he tossed the gun into the backseat himself. He also asserted that when his car pulled up alongside Knight’s, Shakur reached for a weapon. The book reads, “Pac pulled out a strap, and that’s when the fireworks started. One of my guys from the back seat grabbed the Glock and started bustin’ back.” Audio of Duane 'Keefe D' Davis describing the shooting that killed Tupac was played in court Thursday.https://t.co/2Xsh9bN3XW pic.twitter.com/2E6Od5iWJC— KSNV News 3 Las Vegas (@News3LV) August 20, 2026 In the recorded police interview, however, Davis made no mention of Shakur firing or even possessing a firearm. He also told investigators that he believed Suge Knight had been killed because a bullet struck him in the back of the head. When asked why Knight looked over at him during the shooting, Davis remarked, “I don’t f–king know,” noting he had known Knight since they were 7 or 8 years old. Per CNN, Davis testified that Shakur tried to jump into the backseat while Knight was ducking. He then estimated that about six bullets were shot and even recounted seeing the ambulance. Per the BBC, the interview also touched on wider gang dynamics and high-profile allegations. Davis claimed he had spoken with Sean “Diddy” Combs regarding the killing of Shakur and what Davis also believed was Knight’s death. Jurors heard a secret police interview with Duane "Keffe D" Davis admitting his role in the shooting of Tupac Shakur Thursday. https://t.co/fjfn2yNBFQ— KYMA (@KYMA11) August 21, 2026 When asked by Kading on which of Combs’ tour stops they had discussed the murder, Davis reportedly replied, “It was really about both of them, yeah, either one of them.” Representatives for Combs have denied these claims, stating that Davis made the statements to gain fame and notoriety. Davis’ defense lawyer, Michael Sanft, has maintained that his client’s prior statements are unreliable. Per the BBC, he previously challenged the jury to consider the validity of these accounts, stating, “What facts do you have to support any of what Keffe D said in any of his interviews or the book?” Sanft has argued that Davis’ claims were often fictionalized to sell books or gain attention. Despite these arguments, the jury remained focused throughout the hours-long playback that also recounted some of Davis’ highest points of power and influence. Per CNN, as the recording detailed the aftermath of the shooting, including the group dumping their car at the nearby Carriage House, family members of the late rapper were visibly affected. The trial is scheduled to continue on Friday morning, with prosecutors expected to play another recording from 2009.