Former American gang leader Duane “Keffe D” Davis has been found guilty of orchestrating the 1996 murder of legendary rapper Tupac Shakur, bringing the first conviction in one of the most closely watched unsolved cases in hip-hop history.
A Las Vegas jury convicted the 63-year-old Davis on Monday of one count of murder with a deadly weapon over Shakur’s death in a drive-by shooting on September 7, 1996.
Davis, who appeared in court wearing a black suit, maintained his composure as the verdict was delivered. He subsequently indicated that he intends to appeal the conviction.
Prosecutors told the court that Davis, a former leader of the South Side Compton Crips gang, organised the attack in retaliation for a confrontation involving his nephew, Orlando Anderson, and Shakur’s associates earlier that night.
According to prosecutors, although Davis was not the person who fired the fatal shots, he supplied the weapon and helped organise the shooting. Anderson was identified as the alleged gunman but was never charged. He died in an unrelated shooting in 2008 and had denied involvement in Shakur’s killing.
A key part of the prosecution’s case was Davis’ own statements about the shooting.
During a police interview in 2008, conducted as part of an investigation into the murder of fellow rapper The Notorious B.I.G., Davis acknowledged that he had been inside the white Cadillac from which the shots were fired.
He later discussed his involvement publicly, including in his 2019 memoir, Compton Street Legend, as well as in interviews and documentaries.
Prosecutors argued that Davis’ repeated accounts demonstrated that he was the person who organised the attack.
“He’s the shot caller,” prosecutor Binu Palal told jurors during closing arguments, arguing that Davis’ position as a gang leader made him responsible for the actions carried out by those under his direction.
However, Davis’ defence team argued that his previous statements should not be taken as evidence of guilt.
His lawyer, Michael Sanft, described Davis’ accounts as exaggerated stories intended to make money and promote his memoir.
The defence maintained that there was no physical evidence directly linking Davis to the killing and urged jurors to reject his public claims.
The jury, however, reached a guilty verdict shortly after receiving the case.
Shakur, popularly known as Tupac, was 25 when he was shot while travelling in a car along the Las Vegas Strip. He died six days later from his injuries.
At the time of his death, he was one of the biggest stars in music, with the killing occurring against the backdrop of the intense rivalry between the East Coast and West Coast hip-hop scenes and wider tensions involving rival street gangs.
His death remained unsolved for nearly three decades and became the subject of numerous theories and conspiracy claims.
Shakur’s family members became emotional as the verdict was read, with some hugging and crying inside the courtroom. Fans also gathered outside the court to celebrate the development.
Davis is scheduled to be sentenced on October 13.
He told the judge before leaving the courtroom that he wanted to appeal the conviction, although the judge explained that the appeal process could begin after sentencing.
Tupac Shakur remains one of the most influential figures in hip-hop history. He has sold more than 75 million records worldwide since his death.
