Tupac Shakur case gets fresh perspective on evidence from LA detective who was at murder scene

It has been almost thirty years since the death of Tupac Shakur, and the case just went on trial in August 2026. Tupac was shot in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996. He succumbed to the injuries and passed away six days later.

Duane Davis, aka Keffe D, was arrested on September 29, 2023, for being the shooter and has been on trial since August 10, 2026. Closing arguments on the case are going to begin on September 31, 2026, and an LA detective who was present at the murder scene right after it took place, has now given a new perspective on the evidence.

Dean O'Kelley's perspective on the Tupac Shakur murder trial

On the day Tupac Shakur died, he had attended a Mike Tyson boxing match at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. After the match, Tupac and members of his entourage, who were connected to the Mob Piru gang, assaulted Orlando Anderson, a member of a rival Los Angeles gang, the South Side Compton Crips.

Prosecutors allege that Keffe D, who is Anderson's uncle, shot at Tupac Shakur in retaliation for what was done to his nephew. Tupac Shakur was in his BMW while Keffe D and his men were in a white Cadillac. Nine or more bullets were reportedly fired that day, four of which hit Tupac. However, only seven bullet cartridges were found.

While investigation revealed that all the bullets came out of the same .40-caliber Glock 22 semi-automatic pistol, the gun was never found, and neither was the white Cadillac from which Keffe D allegedly shot at Tupac.

However, Dean O'Kelley, a retired Las Vegas Metro Gang detective who recently spoke on the case on NewsNation's Jesse Weber Live, has given a fresh perspective on the evidence. O'Kelley briefly went over what had happened and his experience of being one of the first ones to arrive at the scene. He was then asked if the prosecutor's case isn't strong enough since the gun or the Cadillac wasn't found.

O'Kelley, however, said that irrespective of what wasn't found, there's proof that Tupac Shakur was shot four times and more than four bullets were fired since more than four cartridges were found in and on Shakur's BMW. O'Kelley is also well versed in how gang violence works, and as he shared his perspective, he said that a shell casing told them everything they needed to know.

As he stated:

"I mean, just by experience, it's a gang-related incident. I mean, that's really it's a signature move, right? Just the whole drive-by shooting. Multiple rounds fired. I understand from photographs of the BMW, some of which are showing now that there were more impacts on the BMW. Then there were cartridge cases there in the street and we have one bullet fragment."

O'Kelley mentioned that other bullet fragments were found on the BMW. Moreover, he believes that some of the cartridges might have gotten injected into the Cadillac when the shooter was sticking his arm out to shoot at Tupac.

When asked if he believes the lack of evidence might hurt the prosecution's case, Dean O'Kelley said that he doesn't think so. O'Kelley shared that there are many instances of gang violence where a firearm or vehicle used by the perpetrator isn't found, and that's common.

He also talked about how he believes the prosecution still has a strong case because there are a few obvious proofs. It is obvious that Tupac Shakur was shot; cartridges found at the scene matched the bullets, and it has also been proved that all bullets were fired from the same gun. Thus, O'Kelley believes there's enough evidence to charge Keffe D with the murder.

Closing arguments on the Tupac Shakur case will be presented by the prosecution and defense on August 31, 2026.

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