A jury has found Duane “Keffe D” Davis guilty of staging a murder plot of rap icon Tupac Shakur, bringing an end to the case that grappled hip-hop fans for decades.
Davis was charged with murdering rapper Tupac Shakur using a deadly weapon to commit murder in a way that was meant to advance the interests of a criminal gang on August 31, 2026.
The trial continued for several weeks, and the jury took less than three hours to reach its verdict on Monday, August 31.
Over a course of nine days, the panel consisting of 16 jurors, four of whom are alternates, listened to witness statements from 24 prosecution witnesses and three defence witnesses.
If convicted, he could face a life imprisonment. Davis, 63, had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution believes the state would drop the gang allegation from the charges due to witness logistics.
After the verdict was read, Shakur’s sister broke into tears, hugging the prosecutors, while Davis’ son hid his face with one hand.
How did the events of Tupac Shakur’s murder unfold?
Shakur, who was recognised as one of the most influential rappers of all time, was staying in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996, when he was stopped at a red light when a white Cadillac drove up next to him, and shots were fired.
He succumbed to the injuries after battling with the injuries sustained.
For years, nobody had been charged in the rapper’s death until Davis made public statements, revealing he was in the Cadillac and handed the gun to others in the back seat.
Duane “Keff4e D” Davis claimed that the shooting of Tupac Shakur happened as revenge after Suge Knight (Tupac’s record label boss) and Shakur’s gang assaulted Davi’s nephew (Orlando Andersobn) hours before the shooting.
As per Nevada law, someone who acts as an accomplice to commit murder can be convicted of the crime.
In this context, Davis is the only person still alive among the four men prosecutors alleged were in the Cadillac. The man who prosecutors say handled the gun to Davis has also died.
Davis now faces sentencing, which is scheduled for October.
