On the second day of the high‑profile trial for the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur, a witness named James “Mob James” McDonald took the stand and challenged the prosecution’s demand that he name the alleged killers. McDonald, who was threatened with contempt of court for not testifying, raised his voice and warned that answering any questions would “not be good” for Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the defendant charged with orchestrating the shooting that killed Shakur in Las Vegas after a Mike Tyson match.
The accused, a former leader of the South Side Compton Crips, repeatedly faced cross‑examination from his attorney, Michael Sanft, about people present on the night of the shooting. McDonald declined to testify about who was there, arguing that doing so would harm the defendant’s case. He also added that although he was not present, the gang war that erupted after an earlier fight involving Shakur’s nephew Orlando Anderson had already identified who “should” have been targeted.
The trial, which marks the 30th anniversary of Shakur’s death, has long been shrouded in controversy. He was shot on September 7, 1996, and died six days later after refusing to cooperate with police. The courtroom is still battling old gang rivalries and the historic distrust of law‑enforcement that existed in the ’90s hip‑hop scene.
McDonald’s testimony ended with a stark refusal to be part of the case, telling Davis, “I don’t want to send you to prison.” The courtroom will return on Wednesday to hear further witness statements, including those from Reggie Wright Jr., a former Death Row Records security guard now a general manager, who may point to former police officer ties in the alleged plot.
For continuous updates, follow the BBC Sounds podcast Fame Under Fire: The Tupac Murder Trial that covers the proceedings in depth.
