Las vegas: A member of Tupac Shakur's entourage delivered combative testimony during the second day of the rapper's murder trial, expressing his reluctance to take the stand and identify those involved in Shakur's death.
According to Ghana Web, James "Mob James" McDonald was threatened with contempt of court if he did not testify. McDonald expressed hesitancy in identifying Duane "Keffe D" Davis, who is charged with orchestrating Shakur's murder and has pleaded not guilty. McDonald indicated reluctance to send Davis to prison, despite their strained relationship.
The trial seeks to resolve one of America's most high-profile unresolved murders, 30 years after Shakur was killed in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas following a boxing match. Prosecutors allege Davis planned the shooting in retaliation for a fight involving his nephew, Orlando Anderson, and Shakur.
The case unfolds against the backdrop of '90s gang influence over the hip-hop scene, where cooperation with police was rare. Shakur himself refused to speak with police before his death, adhering to the street code.
McDonald, a former rival gang member and associate of Shakur's record label, testified he was not present during the shooting but was aware of those responsible through communication within Shakur's entourage. His testimony highlighted the complex gang dynamics and the desire for revenge following Shakur's death.
Reggie Wright Jr., another witness and former security detail for Shakur who later became general manager of Death Row Records, also testified. Davis's defense suggested Wright's possible involvement in the murder, pointing to his subsequent rise in the record label after Suge Knight's departure.
The trial continues, with Davis's previous public admissions about the murder now under scrutiny. He has since disavowed parts of his memoir that implicated him, claiming they were fictionalized for commercial reasons.