Jury finds ex-gang leader guilty of murder in Tupac case
A jury has convicted Duane 'Keffe D' Davis of first-degree murder for his role in the 1996 drive-by shooting of rapper Tupac Shakur. The verdict follows an 11-day trial where prosecutors relied on Davis's own past admissions and memoir to secure the conviction.
Why it matters
This verdict brings closure to one of the most high-profile cold cases in music history, ending a decades-long mystery surrounding the death of an influential cultural icon.
A 12-person jury unanimously found Duane "Keffe D" Davis guilty of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon for the 1996 killing of legendary hip-hop artist Tupac Shakur.
Duane Davis stands during a break in closing arguments in his murder trial, related to the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur, in Clark County District Court at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, on Aug 31, 2026. (Photo: Reuters/Steve Marcus)
An ex-street gang leader accused of orchestrating the drive-by shooting death of hip-hop star Tupac Shakur three decades ago in Las Vegas was convicted of murder on Monday for his role in a long-unsolved crime that silenced one of rap music's most influential voices.
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