What Happened to Tupac Shakur's Autopsy and Murder Investigation?

Tupac Amaru Shakur, known as 2Pac, was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996, and succumbed to his injuries six days later on September 13, 1996. The official causes of death listed in his autopsy report were respiratory failure and cardiopulmonary arrest associated with multiple gunshot wounds. He was struck by four rounds from a .40-caliber Glock 22, with bullets hitting his chest, arm, and thigh. Forensic pathologist Dr. Lisa Gavin, testifying in August 2026, detailed how one bullet collapsed a lung, causing significant internal bleeding, and doctors had to remove the damaged lung in an attempt to save his life.

The immediate aftermath of Shakur's death saw the release of his autopsy photo in Cathy Scott's 1997 book, 'The Killing of Tupac Shakur,' which generated significant controversy and led to an internal police investigation into how the image was obtained. Despite initial investigations, the murder case went cold for decades, becoming one of hip-hop's most enduring mysteries and spawning numerous conspiracy theories.

A significant turning point came with the public statements and 2019 memoir, 'Compton Street Legend,' by Duane 'Keefe D' Davis, a former South Side Compton Crips gang leader. In his memoir and interviews, Davis admitted to being in the white Cadillac from which the fatal shots were fired and claimed to have provided the weapon. These self-implicating statements ultimately revived the investigation, leading to his arrest on September 29, 2023, and indictment for first-degree murder.

Davis pleaded not guilty, and his trial, initially scheduled for 2024, faced multiple delays, eventually commencing with jury selection on August 10, 2026, in Las Vegas. Opening statements began on August 17, 2026, where prosecutors, led by Chief Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal, argued that Davis orchestrated the killing as an act of revenge. They contend the motive stemmed from a prior altercation at the MGM Grand hours earlier, where Shakur and his entourage assaulted Davis's nephew, Orlando 'Baby Lane' Anderson. Prosecutors acknowledge Davis did not pull the trigger but assert he was the 'shot caller' who planned the attack and supplied the .40-caliber Glock.

As of August 19, 2026, the trial is ongoing. On August 18, 2026, Dr. Lisa Gavin testified, detailing Shakur's injuries, with some family members leaving the courtroom due to the graphic nature of the autopsy photos. The defense, led by Michael Sanft, has called the prosecution's narrative 'fiction,' arguing that Davis's prior statements were not credible and that there is insufficient evidence to link him to the shooting. The trial is expected to last several weeks, aiming to bring long-awaited answers to one of hip-hop's most infamous unsolved cases.