A Las Vegas jury has convicted former gang leader, Duane Davis also known as Keffe D on the murder of American rapper and actor, Tupac Shakur, nearly 30 years after the iconic artiste was killed.
The 63-year-old Davis was found guilty on Monday of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon in connection with the Sept. 7, 1996, drive-by shooting that claimed Shakur’s life.
The verdict followed less than three hours of jury deliberation after a weeks-long trial at the Clark County District Court in Las Vegas.
Davis, a former leader of the South Side Compton Crips, was accused of orchestrating the attack that killed Shakur, although prosecutors did not allege that he personally fired the fatal shots.
Prosecutors said the killing was carried out in retaliation for an earlier altercation involving Davis’ nephew, Orlando Anderson and members of Shakur’s entourage at the MGM Grand Casino on the night of the shooting.
According to the prosecution, Davis obtained the firearm and organised the attack while travelling in a white Cadillac with Anderson and two other men.
Shakur was riding in a BMW with Death Row Records co-founder, Marion “ Knight when a white Cadillac pulled alongside the vehicle near the Las Vegas Strip and opened fire.
Shakur was struck several times and died six days later from his injuries.
The case remained unsolved for decades until Davis was arrested in September 2023 and charged with murder.
During the trial, prosecutors relied heavily on statements Davis had made over the years, including accounts in interviews, a 2019 memoir and recordings obtained during the investigation.
The defence argued that Davis had exaggerated or fabricated aspects of his account for financial gain and maintained that he did not commit the murder.
Davis showed little visible reaction when the guilty verdict was read while his son was seen covering his face.
However, members of Shakur’s family were visibly emotional in court.
The late rapper’s sister, Sekyiwa Shakur cried after the verdict and later joined other relatives in embracing prosecutors.
Shakur’s cousin, Aiysha Obafemi said in a statement that the family was elated and relieved by the verdict and expressed gratitude to the jury, family members, friends and fans for their support.
“Above all, we honour Afeni Shakur, a mother whose strength and unshakable belief in her son’s truth carried this fight long before any of us knew where it would lead,” she said.
She added that although the verdict was decades in the making, it wasn’t the end of the story noting that Shakur’s legacy and impact on the world would continue.
The conviction also generated reactions across the hip-hop community and his global fan base, many of whom had waited nearly three decades for accountability in the case.
Rapper, 50 Cent reacted to the verdict on social media, jokingly suggesting that Davis could eventually become a witness in another high-profile case.
Fans and supporters of the late rapper also took to social media to celebrate the development, with many describing the conviction as long-awaited justice for the rapper.
The late rapper was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in hip-hop history and released several acclaimed albums including “All Eyez on Me” and “Me Against the World.”
His music addressed issues including poverty, racism, violence and social injustice, while his acting career included roles in films such as “Juice,” “Poetic Justice” and “Above the Rim.”
The rapper’s death became one of the most enduring mysteries in popular culture and intensified the rivalry between the East Coast and West Coast factions of American hip-hop at the time.
Davis is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 13 and faces a possible life sentence.
He has indicated that he intends to appeal the conviction.
