Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis was found guilty of first-degree murder in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur, a case that had remained unsolved for nearly three decades. Davis is the only person ever formally charged in connection with the death of the rapper, which occurred near the Las Vegas Strip on September 6, 1996.
During closing arguments, prosecutors described Davis as a leader within the South Side Compton Crips and said he was directly involved in planning the shooting, according to CNN. They argued that his memoir, which recounts the events of that night, should be seen as an admission of guilt despite listing a co-author.
The defense countered by calling the account in Davis’ book fiction and pointed to missing records and a lack of direct evidence placing him at the scene.
Davis was convicted on charges of first-degree murder with use of a deadly weapon, including two modifiers related to gang involvement and firearm use, according to a report from 8newsnow.com. Prosecutors chose not to pursue a gang enhancement due to logistical issues involving witness testimony, according to the chief deputy district attorney.
After the verdict was read, family members of Tupac Shakur were seen embracing prosecutors in the courtroom.
Davis is now expected to be sentenced on October 13 and could face life in prison without parole. He was ordered held without bond pending sentencing, and he raised his hand to request his personal belongings back after learning of the verdict.
Davis also said he would appeal the conviction, a move that is standard in cases like this.
During the trial, former gang detective Robert Ladd testified that Davis held a high rank within his gang and had authority over others involved in violence, fox13news.com reported. Davis claimed in past interviews that he was riding with his nephew Orlando ‘Baby Lane’ Anderson and two other men when they approached Tupac and Suge Knight.
In a 2008 police interview played in court, Davis said he provided the gun and Anderson opened fire during the drive-by shooting. A tell-all memoir by Davis, published in 2019, helped reignite interest in the case and led to new investigative efforts.
Retired Las Vegas police detective Clifford Mogg said no weapon was found in the car of Tupac or Suge Knight at the time of the shooting.
The trial concluded with a jury finding Davis guilty nearly three decades after the high-profile murder shocked the nation.
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