“Keffe D” found guilty in Tupac murder
September 1 2026
Former gang leader Duane “Keffe D” Davis has been found guilty of orchestrating the 1996 murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur, marking the first conviction in the nearly three-decade-old case.
A jury in Las Vegas found the 63-year-old guilty of one count of murder with a deadly weapon in connection with the drive-by shooting that killed Shakur on September 7, 1996.
Davis stood impassively in court as the verdict was delivered and indicated that he intends to appeal. His sentencing has been scheduled for October 13.
Prosecutors argued that Davis, a former leader of the South Side Compton Crips, ordered the shooting and supplied the firearm used by his nephew, Orlando Anderson, who prosecutors said opened fire on Shakur.
Anderson, who denied involvement in the killing, died in an unrelated shooting in 1998.
During the trial, prosecutors relied heavily on Davis’ own previous statements about the shooting. In a 2008 police interview, Davis acknowledged being inside the white Cadillac from which the shots were fired, although he maintained that he did not fire the weapon himself.
Davis also discussed his involvement in his 2019 memoir, *Compton Street Legend*, as well as in documentaries, podcasts and media interviews. Prosecutors argued that his repeated public accounts demonstrated his responsibility as the person who ordered the killing.
The defence, however, maintained that Davis’ statements were exaggerated stories intended to generate publicity and sell his book.
The shooting was allegedly carried out as retaliation after Anderson was involved in a fight with Shakur and members of his entourage in Las Vegas just hours before the rapper was killed.
Shakur was 25 at the time of his death and was at the height of a career that would make him one of the most influential figures in hip-hop. He has sold more than 75 million records worldwide.
His murder became one of the most closely followed cold cases in the United States, generating decades of speculation and conspiracy theories without a conviction until Davis’ guilty verdict.
Shakur’s relatives were visibly emotional in court following the verdict, with some embracing and crying. Fans gathered outside the courthouse also reacted with tears and cheers as news of the conviction spread.
Davis remained in custody following the verdict and told the judge that he wanted to appeal the case. The judge advised that the appeal process could begin after sentencing.
