Historic Verdict in Tupac Shakur Murder Case 28 Years Later: Former Gang Leader Convicted

Nearly three decades after Tupac Shakur was shot in Las Vegas, a jury found former gang leader Duane “Keffe D” Davis guilty of the rapper’s murder.

Davis, 63, faces a possible life sentence without parole. The judge set his sentencing hearing for Oct. 13. Davis told the court he wanted to appeal, but the judge said that could happen after sentencing.

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I want to appeal.

Shakur was shot several times from a passing vehicle on Sept. 7, 1996, and died several days later. The case remained largely unresolved until Davis was charged in 2023 and arrested in September of that year. Prosecutors described him as a former South Side Compton Crips leader who acted like a “field commander” and gave the “death order” against Shakur.

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field commander

A juror alleged that Davis planned the attack after his nephew became involved in a fight at a Las Vegas casino. Davis’s lawyers denied that he had any connection to the killing and argued that his 2019 memoir was fictional. In the book, Davis said he gave the murder weapon to his nephew Orlando Anderson, who he said shot Shakur. A judge ruled that the memoir could be used as evidence.

Shakur, who performed as 2Pac, was born in East Harlem in 1971 and became known for songs addressing inequality and racism. His albums and hits, including “California Love,” “All Eyez on Me,” “Changes” and “I Ain’t Mad at Cha,” made him one of rap’s best-known figures. The mystery surrounding his death fueled years of rumors and conspiracy theories.

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death order