Key facts
- Duane 'Keffe D' Davis was convicted of first-degree murder in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur.
- Prosecutors used Davis's own statements from interviews and his memoir as key evidence.
- The prosecution argued Davis orchestrated the shooting as retaliation for an earlier assault on his nephew.
- Davis's defense claimed his statements were fabricated for attention and profit.
- Davis faces a potential life sentence and is scheduled for sentencing on October 13.
Duane 'Keffe D' Davis has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur, a case that remained unsolved for nearly three decades. A Las Vegas jury convicted Davis, 63, after less than three hours of deliberation, determining he orchestrated the shooting.
Prosecutors built their case largely on Davis's own repeated accounts of the events leading up to and during the shooting. Over the years, Davis discussed his involvement in interviews with law enforcement, filmmakers, and in his memoir, 'Compton Street Legend.' He described being in the front passenger seat of the Cadillac from which shots were fired at Shakur's BMW, and stated he passed a gun to the backseat. While prosecutors did not allege Davis fired the fatal shots, they argued he was responsible for organizing the attack and providing the weapon as retaliation for his nephew, Orlando 'Baby Lane' Anderson, being beaten by Shakur and his entourage earlier that night.
Davis's defense attorney, Michael Sanft, argued that Davis's statements were fabrications made for money and notoriety, characterizing them as "braggadocio and fiction." Sanft also contended that investigators failed to provide independent evidence, such as surveillance footage or phone records, to prove Davis was in Las Vegas on the night of the murder.
Investigators had long suspected the killing was retaliation for the MGM Grand beating but struggled to gather sufficient evidence for prosecution. Reluctant witnesses, the death of other potential suspects, and the complex circumstances surrounding early interviews with Davis complicated the investigation. However, Davis's later public statements, including in documentaries and his memoir, allowed prosecutors to use his earlier statements against him. A renewed investigation by Las Vegas police led to Davis's arrest in 2023.
Davis is scheduled to be sentenced on October 13 and faces a potential life sentence in prison.