‘I don’t want to send you to prison’, witness tells Tupac accused in combative testimony
By Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty and Nardine Saad
A member of Tupac Shakur’s entourage, James "Mob James" McDonald, displayed a combative demeanor during the second day of the rapper’s murder trial. He refused to identify those responsible for Shakur’s death, even going as far as telling the accused, "I don’t want to send you to prison."
McDonald’s Testimony:
On Tuesday, McDonald was questioned about his knowledge of Shakur’s death and his role at the time. He claimed he wasn’t with Shakur during the shooting but became defensive when asked specific questions.
"You’re asking me something that wouldn’t be good for him," McDonald said, pointing to Duane "Keffe D" Davis, who is charged with murder. "I don’t want to send you to prison."
The trial, which aims to resolve one of America’s most notorious unsolved murders, marks 30 years since Shakur’s death in a Las Vegas street shooting on September 7, 1996.
Prosecutors’ Allegations:
Prosecutors argue that Davis, a former leader of the South Side Compton Crips, planned the attack after his nephew Orlando Anderson was involved in an earlier altercation with Shakur. They believe Davis felt the need to respond due to gang codes and the prevailing atmosphere of distrust towards authorities at the time.
Shakur’s own words after the shooting, "we’ll take care of it," reflect this code of silence among gang members.
McDonald’s Conflicting Feelings:
Despite his reluctance to testify, McDonald expressed a sense of conflict due to his past association with rival Bloods and his role at Death Row Records. However, he maintained that he had little personal animosity towards Davis.
