Jury selection for the trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis, accused of the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur, continues in the courts. On August 12, 2026, Ronald “Money B” Brooks, a member of Digital Underground and a close friend of Tupac before his rise, appeared on a show to present his own perspective on the crime, suggesting that the real shooter is no longer alive and that the rap rivalry narrative may have been manipulated.
Money B’s theory about the shooter’s identity
Money B said he believes the person responsible for the fatal shooting of Tupac Shakur is dead. He mentioned that “the streets have been talking for years” and that Keffe D’s nephew, Orlando Anderson, is often named as the gunman. The musician, however, stressed that he has no first-hand knowledge of what happened. Additionally, Money B expressed the belief that other people and possibly agencies played a role in Tupac’s death and the shooter’s subsequent escape.
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Details of the charge against Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis
Prosecutors in the case maintain that Davis did not carry out the shooting himself, but planned the attack from inside a moving car on the famous Las Vegas Strip. The motive, according to the prosecution, would be retaliation for a fight involving his nephew. Davis has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers argue that the defendant’s previous confessions – made in police interrogations, in a documentary and in his autobiography – were exaggerations told in search of money and attention, and do not represent the truth of the facts.
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Tupac Shakur’s first steps in music and his profile
The group Digital Underground offered Tupac Shakur his first break in the early 90s. Initially, he served as a roadie and backup dancer, before taking over the microphone and becoming one of the biggest names in rap. Money B described him as an intensely determined and compassionate individual. The longtime friend highlighted Shakur’s work ethic as something he had never seen before, and added that the rapper was “raised to question authority” and had a deep desire to help his community. It is believed that, had he been alive, his path would have led him further into activism.
Rejection of manufactured rivalry between East and West Coasts
Money B also emphatically rejected the idea of a genuine rivalry between East Coast and West Coast rap, a theory popularly associated with Tupac’s death. He explores this perspective in his memoir, “A DU Party Don’t Stop,” due out in October. The musician alleged that media coverage turned a personal dispute between two people into a manufactured rivalry, stating that “it was all set up. It was all promoted”, and that “that’s what killed Tupac”. This view challenges one of the most widespread narratives about the rap scene at the time.
Key moments in the Tupac murder investigation
- September 1996:Tupac Shakur is fatally shot on the Las Vegas Strip, aged 25.
- Decades of speculation:The case remained without an official solution, fueling several theories about the shooter and those who ordered it.
- September 2023:Duane “Keffe D” Davis is indicted for murder, accused of planning the attack.
- Early 2026:Davis’ trial begins with jury selection, bringing the case back into the spotlight.
- August 12, 2026:Ronald “Money B” Brooks shares his theory about the shooter and the intercoastal rivalry.
Next steps and what remains to be clarified in the case
With the trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis underway, many questions remain open. The court seeks to determine Davis’ responsibility in planning the murder, while the defense attempts to discredit his previous confessions. Money B’s theory, which points to a deceased shooter, adds a layer of complexity to the case, raising questions about the possibility of others involved still going unpunished. The unfolding of the legal process will be essential in trying to bring more clarity to one of music’s most enduring mysteries.