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Photographer Leonard Jefferson Recounts Capturing Tupac's Final Moments

other · 2026-08-26

Nearly three decades after Tupac Shakur was fatally shot in Las Vegas, photographer Leonard Jefferson has come forward to describe how he captured the iconic image of the rapper moments before his death. Jefferson, who was stopped at a red light on the night of September 7, 1996, noticed Tupac and Suge Knight in a black BMW. After exchanging greetings, Jefferson took a photo with his Nikon Nuvis 125i point-and-shoot camera. Moments later, gunshots rang out, and Tupac was hit four times, dying six days later. Jefferson returned to the scene and was briefly detained by police. His eyewitness account is now part of the trial of Duane "Keffe D" Davis, the first person charged with Tupac's murder, currently underway at Clark County District Court. Jefferson is also collaborating with writer-director Cole Swanson on a short film titled "The Shot," with a GoFundMe campaign launched to support the project.

Key facts

  • Leonard Jefferson photographed Tupac Shakur moments before his shooting on September 7, 1996.
  • Jefferson was stopped at a red light in Las Vegas when he saw Tupac and Suge Knight in a black BMW.
  • He used a Nikon Nuvis 125i point-and-shoot film camera.
  • Tupac was shot four times and died six days later; Suge Knight was grazed by bullets.
  • Jefferson was briefly detained by police at the scene.
  • Duane "Keffe D" Davis is the first person to stand trial for Tupac's murder.
  • The trial is being held at Clark County District Court in Las Vegas.
  • Jefferson is working with Cole Swanson on a short film called "The Shot".

Entities

Artists

  • Leonard Jefferson
  • Tupac Shakur
  • Suge Knight
  • Duane "Keffe D" Davis
  • Cole Swanson

Institutions

  • Death Row Records
  • Clark County District Court
  • KTLA 5
  • GoFundMe

Locations

  • Las Vegas
  • United States

Sources