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

Nearly 30 years after Tupac Shakur was killed, a Las Vegas jury has found Duane “Keffe D” Davis guilty of first-degree murder in connection with the rapper’s death.

The 63-year-old former gang leader was convicted on Monday, August 31, 2026, following a trial that finally brought one of hip-hop’s most infamous unsolved cases to court. The jury reached its verdict in less than three hours.

Prosecutors argued that Davis helped organise the September 1996 drive-by shooting that killed Tupac. According to the prosecution, the attack was carried out as retaliation after Tupac and his associates were involved in an altercation with Davis’ nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, earlier that night.

Davis was not accused of being the gunman. Prosecutors said he supplied the firearm and helped organise the group that pursued Tupac and Death Row Records executive Marion “Suge” Knight in a white Cadillac.

Tupac Shakur was shot on September 7, 1996, while riding in a BMW with Suge Knight in Las Vegas. The rapper was struck multiple times and died six days later at the age of 25.

For decades, the murder remained one of the most closely watched unsolved cases in music history. Davis eventually became the only person charged in connection with the killing after Las Vegas authorities arrested him in 2023.

One of the major pieces of evidence against Davis came from his own public statements. In interviews and his 2019 memoir, “Compton Street Legend,” Davis described his involvement in the events surrounding Tupac’s death.

Prosecutors used those statements to argue that Davis had knowledge of the attack and played a central role in organising it. His defence, however, argued that Davis had exaggerated or fabricated parts of his story over the years for attention and financial gain. The jury ultimately rejected that argument and found him guilty.

Davis now faces a potential life sentence without parole. His sentencing is scheduled for October 13, 2026. His lawyers have indicated that he plans to appeal the conviction. The verdict marks the first conviction in Tupac Shakur’s murder case, nearly three decades after the legendary rapper’s death.

For Tupac’s family and millions of fans who have waited years for answers, the conviction represents a major development in a case that has remained surrounded by questions, theories and speculation.