Former gang leader Duane “Keffe D” Davis has been found guilty of orchestrating the 1996 murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur, ending one of the most closely watched cold cases in music history.
A Las Vegas jury convicted Davis, 63, on one count of murder with a deadly weapon over Shakur’s death in a drive-by shooting on September 7, 1996.
Davis stood impassively in a black suit as the court read the verdict. He later told the judge that he intended to appeal.
Shakur’s relatives reacted emotionally to the verdict, with some holding hands, hugging and crying. Outside the court, fans of the late rapper also cried and cheered.
Shakur was 25 when gunmen shot him as he travelled in a BMW with Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight in Las Vegas. He died six days later from his injuries.
The rapper had reached the height of his career and became one of hip-hop’s most influential figures. He has sold more than 75 million records worldwide.
Prosecutors Link Davis to Shooting
Prosecutors argued that Davis did not pull the trigger but organised the attack and provided the gun used by his nephew, Orlando Anderson.
Anderson, a member of the South Side Compton Crips, had fought with Shakur and members of his entourage at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas several hours before the shooting.
Prosecutors said Davis planned the attack as retaliation for that confrontation.
The case remained unsolved for decades and generated numerous theories about who ordered and carried out Shakur’s killing.
The murder occurred during a period of intense rivalry between the East Coast and West Coast hip-hop scenes, alongside long-running conflicts between the Bloods and Crips gangs.
Davis’ Own Words Became Key Evidence
Prosecutors relied heavily on Davis’ own public statements about the shooting.
Davis had repeatedly acknowledged that he was inside the white Cadillac from which the gunmen opened fire.
Authorities also interviewed him secretly in 2008 while investigating the death of fellow rapper Christopher Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G.
Davis later described his involvement in his 2019 memoir, Compton Street Legend, and discussed the case in several media interviews and podcasts.
Prosecutors argued that those statements undermined his defence and provided evidence of his role in the killing.
A previous protective agreement between Davis and authorities had prevented prosecutors from charging him. However, his later public statements and the publication of his memoir led to legal arguments over whether investigators could use his 2008 interview against him.
The court ultimately allowed prosecutors to use the interview during the murder trial.
During closing arguments, prosecutor Binu Palal urged jurors to believe Davis’ repeated admissions.
Palal said Davis had spent years telling people “that he is responsible for Tupac Shakur’s murder” through documentaries, his memoir, podcasts and his police interview.
“He’s the shot caller – in every instance in every iteration he’s the leader of the South Side Crips,” Palal told the jury.
“When you have the shot caller sitting shotgun when shots are fired, there’s no doubt he’s responsible.”
Defence Calls Davis a Liar
Davis’ defence team argued that his statements did not amount to admissions of guilt.
His lawyers told jurors that Davis had exaggerated or fabricated parts of his story to boost his profile, sell books and make money.
During closing arguments, defence lawyer Michael Sanft urged jurors to reject Davis’ claims and view him as an unreliable storyteller.
“There’s no proof,” he told the jury.
The jury deliberated for only a short time after receiving the case on Monday before returning a guilty verdict.
Davis Says He Will Appeal
After the verdict, Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny scheduled Davis’ sentencing for October 13.
As the judge went through procedural matters, Davis raised his hand and asked for some of his personal belongings, including his phone.
“I would like my stuff,” he told the judge.
He then added: “I would like to appeal this matter.”
The judge explained that Davis could begin the appeal process after sentencing.
The conviction marks the first successful prosecution in Shakur’s murder and brings a major development to a case that has captivated hip-hop fans and investigators for nearly three decades.
