Marin man reflects on friendship with Tupac as murder trial begins: 'People want closure'
MARIN CITY, Calif. (KGO) -- Nearly 30 years after rapper Tupac Shakur was fatally shot in Las Vegas, opening statements were held Monday in the trial of a man accused of orchestrating the killing.
The case has drawn attention from people who knew Shakur before he became a global music icon, including Demetrius Striplin, who grew up with him in Marin City. Shakur had strong roots in the Bay Area, living in Marin City and later in Oakland.
Striplin said he is aware of the trial involving Duane "Keffe D" Davis but is not closely following the proceedings.
"I knew him as a friend who told me to never sell drugs and do stupid stuff, so I'll wait until it's all said and done. I'm not part of the trial; I can't affect it in any way," Striplin said.
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Striplin recalled spending time with Shakur as a young man in Marin City, where he said he worked as a DJ while Shakur freestyled just about anywhere.
"I had my own experiences and memories of Tupac, so I don't like to see people drag him through the mud," Striplin said.
When asked what comes to mind when he thinks of Shakur, Striplin reflected on their friendship.
"I think of the guy that lived in my apartment," he said. "We used to hang out and listen to music all day. I think of the friend who made it, and all I can do is be proud of what he did and who he was."
Striplin also remembered Shakur reciting Shakespeare in his living room and said it pains him that Shakur never had the opportunity to win an Oscar.
While he is not closely watching the trial, Striplin said he understands why interest in the case remains strong decades after Shakur's death.
"People want closure man, everyone wants to know," Striplin said. "One of the greatest murder mysteries there is, who did it? Everybody wanna know. I want to know and his family deserves real closure. Not a bunch of open-ended accusations, but come on man somebody did it, somebody killed him so, the evidence is somewhere."
As the trial moves forward, Striplin said he hopes the proceedings provide answers for those still seeking closure in the case, including Shakur's family and longtime friends.
