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Duane “Keffe D” Davis has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur, ending a case that remained unsolved for nearly three decades.
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A 12-person jury in Las Vegas reached the verdict after less than three hours of deliberation.
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Prosecutors said Davis organized the attack after his nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, was beaten by Shakur and members of his entourage earlier that night.
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Davis faces life in prison without parole and has told the court he plans to appeal the conviction.
September 01, (THEWILL) — Duane “Keffe D” Davis has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 1996 killing of rap icon Tupac Shakur.
A 12-person jury in Las Vegas reached the verdict on Monday, August 31, after less than three hours of deliberation. The conviction marks the first guilty verdict in the nearly 30-year-old case.
Davis, 63, was accused of orchestrating the drive-by shooting that killed Shakur, one of hip-hop’s most influential artists.
Prosecutors said Davis, a former leader of the South Side Compton Crips, organized the attack after his nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, was involved in a fight with Shakur and members of his entourage at the MGM Grand earlier that night.
Hours later, Shakur was riding in a BMW with Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight when a white Cadillac pulled alongside the vehicle. Gunfire erupted, striking Shakur several times.
He died six days later, on September 13, 1996. He was 25.
Davis was not accused of firing the weapon. Prosecutors argued that he helped organize the attack and supplied the gun used by one of the men in the back of the Cadillac.
The prosecution’s case relied heavily on Davis’ own statements.
He discussed the shooting during a 2008 police interview and later wrote about his involvement in his 2019 memoir, Compton Street Legend.
Prosecutors also played recorded conversations in which Davis described being inside the white Cadillac on the night of the shooting.
They argued that, despite changes in his account over the years, he consistently placed himself at the scene.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal described Davis as the “shot caller” who obtained the gun and “went hunting” for Shakur.
Prosecutors said the attack was carried out in retaliation for the earlier confrontation at the MGM Grand.
The defense disputed that account. Davis’ attorney, Michael Sanft, argued that his client had exaggerated his stories for money, publicity and attention.
The defense also highlighted the lack of physical evidence directly connecting Davis to the shooting and questioned the reliability of his statements.
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The jury ultimately rejected the defense’s argument and found Davis guilty. Prosecutors dropped the gang enhancement portion of the charge because of witness-related issues, but the murder conviction remained.
The verdict closes a major chapter in one of the most closely watched cases in hip-hop history.
Shakur’s murder came during a period of intense rivalry between the East Coast and West Coast rap scenes, as well as conflicts involving gangs connected to artists and record labels.
For years, the case fueled theories and speculation about who was responsible. Davis became the only person charged in the killing when he was arrested in September 2023, nearly 27 years after the shooting.
Shakur’s family members were emotional following the verdict, while fans outside the courthouse celebrated the development.
Davis is scheduled to be sentenced on October 13. He faces life in prison without parole and has told the judge that he intends to appeal the conviction.
Evi-Ben Ezaga is an entertainment and society writer with a passion for stories that explore culture, people, and the stories shaping society today.
