Diddy Could Testify in 2Pac Murder Trial to Deny the Alleged $1m 'Hit' He Ordered

For decades, the murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur (2Pac) has remained one of music's most infamous unsolved crimes. Now, the trial of Duane 'Keefe D' Davis — the man accused of shooting the star in Las Vegas in 1996 — could take a surprising turn.

Reports suggest that Sean 'Diddy' Combs, the music mogul and founder of Bad Boy Records, may serve as a key witness. In the court, he will be refuting claims that he offered £820,000 ($1m) to have Tupac killed.

The Allegation Against Diddy

Duane Davis, 62, is the uncle of Orlando Anderson, a gang member who was involved in a confrontation with Tupac hours before the fatal shooting. Authorities allege Anderson was in the car with Davis when gunfire struck the BMW carrying Tupac.

In a 2008 interview, referenced in the Netflix documentary Sean Combs: The Reckoning, Davis claimed that Combs offered £820,000 ($1m) to orchestrate the attack. This reportedly happened during the height of the East Coast–West Coast rap feud between Bad Boy Records and Death Row Records.

However, there is no independent evidence corroborating this claim. Police records, eyewitness accounts, or material proof linking Diddy directly to the alleged payment do not exist. The allegation remains based solely on Davis' statements.

If Diddy takes the stand, the expectation is that he would categorically deny these claims, as he has consistently done over the years, according to Complex. Such testimony would change Davis' defence. This could also potentially undermine previous statements and support his argument that he had fabricated certain details for attention and self-interest.

How Testimony Could Affect the Trial

A family friend told sources that if Diddy says in court that he never ordered any attack, it could strongly influence the jury. The friend explained that because Diddy is a well-known celebrity, his words might be taken more seriously, and jurors could see his denial as a sign of truth.

Diddy has consistently said he was not involved in Tupac's shooting. In 2017, he called the murder 'senseless' and 'tragic,' making clear he had no part in it. Legal experts note that if he testifies, his statements could directly counter previous claims made about Davis and past media reports.

Context of the East Coast–West Coast Feud

In the 1990s, Bad Boy Records and Death Row Records were locked in a bitter rivalry, which created a tense and sometimes violent atmosphere in the music world. Tupac's murder happened during this period, and the following year, The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace) was also killed.

Tupac and Biggie were once friends, but their relationship soured. The feud was both commercial and personal, leading to a culture of threats and violence in the hip-hop scene. Tupac accused Biggie and his label, Bad Boy Records, of being involved in a 1994 shooting that left Tupac wounded.

As the head of Bad Boy Records, Diddy was tied to the label rivalry. However, he has consistently denied any direct involvement in violence. For Davis, who could face life in prison, getting Diddy to testify could be a key part of his defence.

Trial for Tupac's 'Killer' Opens 27 Years After His Death

The reason the trial is only happening now, more than 27 years after Tupac's shooting in 1996, is that the case was a cold case for decades with no one formally charged. Investigators reopened it in 2023, when a search of Davis's wife's home in Nevada led to new evidence and a grand jury indictment.

Davis, who was 62 at the time, was arrested on Sept. 29, 2023 and charged with first‑degree murder. He becomes the only person ever formally charged in connection with Tupac's death.

Since his arrest, Davis has been held in prison awaiting trial. At times, he was offered bail under strict conditions. A judge later denied house arrest after questioning the source of the funds. He has also been sentenced to two years or more in prison for an unrelated jailhouse fight that happened while he was awaiting trial.

As of today, Davis is still in custody, now at Nevada's High Desert State Prison, where he continues to serve his additional sentence from the jail fight. He will remain there until at least the next trial date on Aug. 10, 2026 if no further delays occur.

If Davis is convicted of first‑degree murder at that trial, he could be sentenced to 50 years to life in prison — or even face the death penalty under Nevada law.