A jury has found Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the former Los Angeles-area gang leader, guilty of orchestrating the 1996 murder of legendary rapper Tupac Shakur.
Tupac was shot in a drive-by attack on September 7, 1996, in Las Vegas while he was in the city for a Mike Tyson heavyweight boxing match. He 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 shooting. His trial began in August in a Las Vegas court.
The 63-year-old had pleaded not guilty to a murder charge involving the use of a deadly weapon in connection with criminal gang activity.
Prosecutors Link Davis to Shooting
Prosecutor Binu Palal argued that Davis had a strong motive to target Tupac following an earlier confrontation involving Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, Davis’ nephew.
Palal told the court that Davis obtained a gun and handed it to Anderson, who subsequently opened fire on Tupac’s vehicle.
The prosecutor also argued that the case remained unsolved for years because of the culture of silence surrounding gangs.
“Silence means survival.”
Palal pointed to interviews and a book in which Davis allegedly discussed his involvement in the events surrounding Tupac’s killing.
Jury Returns Guilty Verdict
After about three hours of deliberation on Monday, the 12-member jury found Davis guilty of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon and with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang.
The jury foreperson announced the verdict in court.
Davis, dressed in a black suit, stood beside his lawyer as the verdict was read before sitting down with his fingers clasped together on the table.
He now faces a possible maximum sentence of life in prison.
Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny has scheduled Davis’ sentencing for October 13.
The verdict marks a major development in the decades-old case surrounding the death of Tupac Shakur, one of the most influential figures in hip-hop history.
Source: Court proceedings / prosecution arguments.
