Nearly 30 years after the death of rap icon Tupac Shakur, his sister, Sekyiwa Shakur, says the family never expected the American criminal justice system to bring his killers to justice.
The murder trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis began in Las Vegas on Monday, August 17, almost three decades after the rapper was fatally shot.
Speaking to Law & Crime Network on Tuesday, Sekyiwa said her family’s history and experiences had shaped their expectations of the justice system.
“Because of the history of America and our family’s history here, we have no expectations or low expectations of the criminal system ever,” she said.
“We’ve never had any expectations of the criminal system to hunt someone down for my brother’s murder.”
Sekyiwa said the family also understood the broader challenges faced by young Black people in America.
“Young Black boys, and their lives and deaths tend to be swept under the rug in America often. We didn’t have high expectations in the beginning,” she said.
2Pac’s Legacy is a Form of Justice
Although Sekyiwa said she had little faith that the criminal justice system would deliver justice for her brother, she believes his lasting influence around the world represents another form of justice.
She pointed to doctors, lawyers, teachers, artists and philosophers who have drawn inspiration from the rapper, whose real name was Tupac Shakur.
“All of the doctors, legal field people, all of the lawyers, teachers, artists, new philosophers that have been inspired by 2Pac that keep his name, energy, integrity and vision for our people or human beings alive, that is justice,” she said.
“The fact his impact still shakes, moves and shapes this world — that’s justice.”
Sekyiwa also thanked 2Pac’s fans for helping preserve his legacy decades after his death.
“My message to them: Whoever you are, thank you for trusting him. Thank you for taking his words and his intentions and putting action and life to it and continuing his legacy of love, struggle and resilience.”
Trial over 1996 Killing
Davis was arrested in September 2023 and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the September 1996 shooting of 2Pac in Las Vegas.
Prosecutors allege that Davis orchestrated the attack as an act of revenge after 2Pac was involved in a fight with Davis’ nephew, Orlando Anderson, at a Las Vegas casino earlier that night.
Davis, a former Los Angeles gang leader, is not accused of being the gunman who fired the fatal shots. Prosecutors allege that he was involved in organising the group that carried out the shooting.
2Pac was 25 when he was shot. He died six days later from his injuries.
Davis is the only surviving member of the group prosecutors say was involved in the shooting.
Opening statements in the trial began on Monday, with testimony expected to continue for at least four more weeks.
