Malcolm Greenidge, a childhood friend of Tupac Shakur and a former member of the hip-hop group Outlawz, has described what he witnessed during the fatal shooting of the rapper in Las Vegas in 1996.
Greenidge testified Tuesday, August 25, during the trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis, who was arrested and charged in connection with the killing of Shakur.
The 52-year-old rapper and record producer told jurors that he and Shakur had known each other since childhood. Greenidge described Shakur as a “big brother” and “mentor” who supported him when he decided to pursue a career in rap.
Greenidge eventually became a member of the Outlawz, the hip-hop group co-founded by Shakur.
His testimony came on the seventh day of the trial as prosecutors examined what Greenidge saw on the night of September 7, 1996, when Shakur was shot during a drive-by attack.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal questioned Greenidge about the events surrounding the shooting.
Greenidge said he had traveled to Las Vegas with Shakur and Shakur’s then-fiancée, Kidada Jones. Neither Greenidge nor Jones attended the boxing match with Shakur.
Prosecutors also questioned Greenidge about an earlier confrontation outside the MGM Grand hotel involving Shakur’s entourage and Orlando Anderson.
Greenidge said he was not present for that confrontation but later left the hotel with Shakur and Marion “Suge” Knight.
Shakur and Knight were traveling together in a BMW as they headed toward Club 662, where Shakur was scheduled to perform.
Greenidge was traveling in a separate vehicle behind them.
During his testimony, Palal asked Greenidge whether he noticed another vehicle approach the BMW.
Greenidge said he did.
He recalled that the group had stopped at a traffic light, where Shakur and Knight were speaking with several young women.
“We were at a light,” Greenidge said. “Mr. Shakur and Suge Knight was talking to some young ladies, we couldn’t hear what they were talking about.”
According to Greenidge, after the women drove away, another vehicle pulled up alongside the BMW.
“Another car pulled up and started shooting at Mr. Shakur and Mr. Knight,” he testified.
Greenidge described the vehicle as a light-colored, four-door Cadillac.
When asked where the gunfire came from, Greenidge said the shots were fired from inside the vehicle.
“The shots came from inside the vehicle,” Greenidge said. “It was from the back seat.”
The case has previously included evidence that the shots were fired from the back seat of the Cadillac using a .40 S&W Glock 22.
Greenidge said he could see the shooter’s arm and the firearm attached to it.
He also described the shooter as appearing to be African-American.
The testimony provided jurors with Greenidge’s account of what he saw from the vehicle immediately behind Shakur and Knight during the shooting.
When prosecutors asked Greenidge about his reaction to witnessing the attack, he described himself as “horrified.”
Shakur was critically wounded in the shooting and died several days later.
The testimony is part of the ongoing case against Davis, who faces charges related to the 1996 killing of the legendary rapper.
