Nearly 30 years after the death of Tupac Shakur, police could be close to uncovering the truth. Former LA gang leader Duane "Keffe D" Davis is standing trial, denying charges of orchestrating the drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas Strip in September 1996 that killed the rap superstar.
Tupac, born Lesane Parish Crooks, was shot four times and died seven days later from internal bleeding. The official cause of death was respiratory failure and cardiopulmonary arrest associated with gunshot wounds.
Long-Awaited Trial
After his arrest in 2023, Davis, 68, faces charges of murder with a deadly weapon with intent to promote, further, or assist a criminal gang. If convicted, he could face life in prison without parole. For many fans, the trial offers a chance for closure, but some still refuse to accept Tupac is dead.
Faking His Own Death
A common conspiracy theory is that Tupac faked his death. Rapper Too Short, real name Todd Anthony Shaw, claimed on Vlad TV: "I believe Tupac didn't die." He added: "I'm just saying that not every politician did not die of car crashes and some of them got killed. Some of those plane crashes were deliberate. So spill s**t over to hip hop – it is a possibility. Believe me, it ain't just open and shut."
Michael Nice, who claimed to be part of Tupac's security team, also alleged he helped fake the rapper's death.
Sightings in Glasgow and Beyond
One bizarre claim suggests Tupac is alive and selling DVDs at the Barras market in Glasgow, Scotland. In 2019, a source told the Mirror: "I've seen Tupac alive, he's working in the Barras market in Glasgow selling DVDs!"
Other sightings include a photo with Beyoncé outside a nightclub, as claimed by website Huzler, and an image with 50 Cent, though its origin is unknown.
Caught on Camera
Conspiracy theorists have analyzed 2011 footage of Occupy Wall Street in New York, pointing to a person in a yellow rain poncho they claim is Tupac. The person looks at the camera before disappearing into the crowd, then reappears with a hood, obscuring their face.
