Former gang leader Duane “Keffe D” Davis has been found guilty of orchestrating the murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur, marking the first conviction in a case that has remained one of hip-hop’s most enduring mysteries for nearly three decades.
According to BBC, a jury found the 63-year-old guilty of one count of murder with a deadly weapon in connection with Shakur’s death in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas on 7 September, 1996.
Davis, dressed in a black suit, showed little reaction as the verdict was delivered in a Las Vegas courtroom.
He later said that he planned to appeal the decision. Members of Shakur’s family were visibly emotional, with some holding hands, embracing and crying after the verdict.
Shakur was just 25 when he was killed at the height of his career. Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in hip-hop, the rapper has sold more than 75 million records worldwide.
Prosecutors argued that Davis did not personally fire the shots that killed Shakur but played a central role in organising the attack.
According to the prosecution, Davis, a former leader of the South Side Compton Crips street gang, ordered the shooting and supplied the weapon allegedly used by his nephew, Orlando Anderson.
The attack, prosecutors said, was planned as retaliation after Anderson was involved in a confrontation with Shakur and members of the rapper’s entourage in Las Vegas just hours before the shooting.
Shakur’s killing remained unsolved for nearly 30 years, becoming one of the most widely discussed cold cases in the United States and giving rise to numerous conspiracy theories.
One of the most significant pieces of evidence presented in the case was Davis’ own public statements about his involvement in the events surrounding Shakur’s death.
Davis had repeatedly acknowledged being inside the white Cadillac from which the fatal shots were fired.
He also spoke to authorities about his role in the case during a confidential police interview in 2008 connected to the investigation into the murder of fellow rapper Christopher Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G.
Davis later provided further details in his 2019 memoir, Compton Street Legend, as well as in documentaries, podcasts and media interviews.
Prosecutors argued that his public comments ultimately undermined a protective agreement he had previously reached with authorities, allowing his police interview to be used as evidence in the murder trial.
During closing arguments, prosecutor Binu Palal urged jurors to believe Davis’ own statements, arguing that he had repeatedly portrayed himself as being responsible for Shakur’s murder.
Palal described Davis as the “shot caller” and leader of the South Side Crips, arguing that his position inside the car during the shooting established his responsibility for the attack.
Davis’ defence team, however, maintained that his previous statements were exaggerated stories intended to promote his memoir and generate publicity.
His lawyer, Michael Sanft, urged jurors to dismiss the claims, arguing that Davis had fabricated details about his involvement.
“There’s no proof,” Sanft told the jury during closing arguments.
However, jurors reached their decision within hours of receiving the case and found Davis guilty.
Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny scheduled Davis’ sentencing for October 13.
Before leaving the courtroom, Davis raised his hand and asked about retrieving personal belongings, including his phone. He also told the judge that he wanted to appeal the case.
The judge explained that the appeal process could proceed after sentencing.
The conviction brings a major development to the decades-long investigation into Shakur’s murder, a case that has remained closely tied to the history of the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop rivalry and gang tensions surrounding the music industry during the 1990s.
