Duane “Keffe D” Davis Found Guilty in Tupac Shakur Murder

LAS VEGAS — Duane “Keffe D” Davis has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur.

Jurors deliberated for about three hours Monday before reaching the verdict. Davis, 63, faces a possible life sentence, with sentencing scheduled for Oct. 13.

Davis, a former leader of the South Side Compton Crips, was arrested outside his Las Vegas-area home in September 2023, nearly 27 years after Shakur was shot on the Las Vegas Strip.

Prosecutors said Davis orchestrated the shooting in retaliation for a fight between his nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, and members of Shakur’s entourage. Shakur was riding in a BMW with Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight when he was repeatedly shot on Sept. 7, 1996. He died from his injuries several days later at age 25.

A key part of the prosecution’s case was Davis’ 2019 memoir, Compton Street Legend, in which he described events surrounding Shakur’s death. Defense attorneys argued that portions of the book were fictional and that its co-writer, Yusuf Jah, had fabricated details.

Prosecutors countered that Davis’ own statements describing the memoir as the “real truth” amounted to an admission of guilt.

Shakur’s family and friends have expressed hope that the case would finally provide answers after decades of uncertainty. His sister, Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, called Davis’ 2023 arrest a “pivotal moment” but said she would reserve judgment until all legal proceedings were completed.

Shakur’s longtime friend Jada Pinkett Smith also welcomed the development, saying she hoped the case would bring answers and closure.