Witness gets into heated exchange during Tupac trial
James McDonald grew frustrated after a tense line of questioning during the Tupac Shakur trial.
Video Team – USA TODAY Entertainment
A witness got into a heated exchange in a Nevada courtroom on day two of Duane Keith “Keffe D” Davis’ trial for the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur.
James McDonald, a former Death Row Records associate and Bloods street gang member, took the stand on Tuesday, Aug. 18, for a tense line of questioning. McDonald was in Las Vegas the night of Sept. 7, 1996, serving in what he described as a security role for the label, but insisted he did not witness the fatal shooting.
As his testimony went on, McDonald grew frustrated with both the prosecution and the defense and refused to answer questions about whether he knew who was responsible. At one point, he spoke directly to Davis, who was a member of the rival South Side Compton Crips at the time and is accused of orchestrating Shakur’s killing.
“I don’t want to send you to prison,” McDonald said to Davis, “even though we don’t like each other.”
McDonald then told the defense attorney: “I changed my life, I’m raising my grandkids, and I’m teaching them never to be like their poppa. And here I am explaining to people what I used to be, and I’m not proud of that. You’re asking me questions that could hurt him.”
When the attorney continued to push him to identify people he believed were involved in the fatal drive-by shooting, McDonald began yelling from the stand.
“You ask me something I don’t wanna talk about, you’re gonna have a problem,” he said. “Treat me as a hostile witness. You’re not gonna talk to me and tell me as a grown man what I have to do up here. I’m not gonna send him to prison, you are.”
McDonald said he was only testifying under a subpoena and didn’t want to be held in contempt of court. He then maintained he was not “in the entourage when Tupac got shot” and was excused.
Davis was indicted in September 2023 on one count of murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang.
Everything you need to know about the Tupac murder trial
Jury selection is taking place Monday, Aug. 10, marking the beginning of Duane “Keffe D” Davis’ trial for the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur.
Prosecutors allege Davis was in the car with fellow Crips members when he provided the gun and instructed them to shoot Shakur and Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight, who survived. The shooting was allegedly retaliation for an altercation earlier that night involving Shakur, Knight and Davis’ nephew, a fellow Crips member.
Davis is the only person who has ever been charged in connection with Shakur’s murder and has pleaded not guilty.