Tupac Shakur murder: Ex-gang leader Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis found guilty

A jury in Las Vegas has found former Los Angeles-area gang leader Duane “Keffe D” Davis guilty of orchestrating the 1996 murder of legendary rapper Tupac Shakur.

Davis, 63, was convicted on Monday of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon, with the offence linked to his alleged intention to promote, further or assist criminal gang activity.

Tupac was shot in a drive-by attack on September 7, 1996, while he was in Las Vegas to attend a heavyweight boxing match involving Mike Tyson. The rapper died six days later after being placed on life support.

Davis, a former leader of the South Side Compton Crips, was arrested in September 2024, nearly three decades after the killing. His trial began in August at a Las Vegas court after jury selection.

He had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge involving the use of a deadly weapon in connection with gang activity.

Prosecutor Binu Palal told the court that Davis had a strong motive to target Tupac following an earlier altercation involving Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, Davis’ nephew.

Palal alleged that Davis obtained a firearm and provided it to Anderson, who subsequently opened fire on the vehicle carrying Tupac in Las Vegas.

The prosecutor argued that the gang culture surrounding the case had helped prevent anyone from being prosecuted for years, describing the prevailing attitude as one in which “silence means survival.”\

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However, he maintained that Davis eventually broke that silence through interviews and a book in which he discussed aspects of the killing.

Jurors resumed deliberations on Monday and reached their verdict after approximately three hours.

The jury foreperson announced the conviction in court, declaring Davis guilty of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon.

Davis stood beside his lawyer in a black suit as the verdict was delivered. He later sat down with his fingers clasped on the table.

The conviction brings a major development in one of the most enduring unsolved murder cases in music history.

Tupac, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in hip-hop, was 25 when he was killed. His death remained officially unresolved for decades before authorities arrested Davis in connection with the case.

Davis now faces a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny has scheduled his sentencing for October 13.