Former gang leader Duane “Keffe D” Davis has been found guilty of the first-degree murder of legendary rapper Tupac Shakur, bringing a close to one of the most notorious unsolved cases in music history.
Davis was convicted of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang, in connection with Shakur’s 1996 killing in Las Vegas.
Tupac, one of the most influential figures in hip-hop, was just 25 when he was shot in a drive-by attack on September 7, 1996, sending shockwaves through the music industry and leaving the circumstances surrounding his death unresolved for decades.
Davis, who was arrested in 2023, has maintained that he was in the vehicle involved in the shooting but has previously described himself as the group’s “shot-caller” rather than the gunman.
He now intends to appeal the verdict, according to reports from the courtroom.
Davis is scheduled to be sentenced on October 13 and could face life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Earlier in the trial, prosecutors argued that the killing was motivated by revenge following a confrontation involving Davis’ nephew, Orlando Anderson.
Prosecutor Palal told the court that on September 7, 1996, Shakur had publicly participated in the beating of Anderson.
He argued that the incident fuelled the decision to retaliate against the rapper. Prosecutors also pointed to statements Davis made over the years about the shooting, including interviews with law enforcement and the media, as well as accounts contained in his autobiography.
Shakur, known professionally as 2Pac, left behind a catalogue that helped redefine hip-hop and established him as one of the genre’s most enduring cultural icons.
His death, coming at the height of his career, fuelled decades of speculation, conspiracy theories and competing accounts over who was responsible.
