A Las Vegas jury has convicted Duane “Keffe D” Davis of first-degree murder for his role in the 1996 killing of legendary American rapper Tupac Shakur, bringing a major breakthrough to one of hip-hop’s most notorious unsolved cases.
The 63-year-old former gang leader was found guilty on August 31, 2026, after jurors deliberated for less than three hours.
Davis showed little reaction as the verdict was read in court. Prosecutors have described him as the last known surviving person who was inside the vehicle from which the shots that killed Shakur were fired.
The prosecution’s case relied heavily on statements Davis made publicly over several years, including accounts in his 2019 memoir, media interviews and recorded conversations with law enforcement.
In those accounts, Davis portrayed himself as a “shot caller” and acknowledged providing the firearm used in the attack. He said the shooting was carried out in retaliation for an earlier confrontation involving his nephew.
Davis’s defence lawyers challenged the reliability of those statements, arguing that he had embellished his involvement for money, publicity and attention.
They also highlighted shortcomings in the original investigation, including missing records and a lack of direct physical evidence connecting Davis to the shooting.
The jury, however, rejected the defence arguments and returned a guilty verdict, marking the first conviction in connection with Shakur’s murder nearly three decades after his death.
Shakur, popularly known as 2Pac, was shot on the Las Vegas Strip in September 1996 after attending a boxing match. He died six days later at the age of 25.
The rapper went on to become one of the most influential artists in hip-hop history, with songs addressing inequality, violence, poverty and social justice.
His death, followed by the 1997 murder of fellow rap icon The Notorious B.I.G., intensified the already bitter rivalry between sections of the hip-hop community and generated years of speculation and investigation.
For nearly 30 years, Shakur’s murder remained one of the music industry’s most prominent unsolved killings, with repeated investigations failing to produce a conviction.
Davis’s conviction is therefore a significant development in a case that has attracted worldwide attention and persistent criticism over the handling of the original investigation.
The verdict is also expected to provide some measure of closure for Shakur’s family, supporters and millions of fans who have followed the case since 1996.
Davis is expected to be sentenced at a later date.
