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Published August 31, 2026 7:19 PM CDT
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Duane Davis looks on during a break during closing arguments in his murder trial, related to the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur, at Clark County District Court at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on August 31, 2026.
A jury in Las Vegas has found Duane 'Keefe D' Davis guilty in orchestrating rapper Tupac Shakur’s 1996 killing.
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Jurors reached their verdict on Monday, just hours after attorneys on both sides made their final arguments before the court. Davis was charged with a single count of first-degree murder.
Prosecutors never accused Davis of firing the shots that killed Shakur. Instead, they allege Davis orchestrated the shooting in retaliation for a casino brawl hours earlier involving Shakur and Davis’ nephew, Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson. Under Nevada law, someone who helps another person commit murder can be convicted of the crime.
During the trial, former Compton gang detective Robert Ladd, who spent years investigating gang homicides, testified that Davis was a high-ranking "shot caller" whose authority meant younger gang members would not have opened fire on Shakur with Davis present unless he allowed it.
Davis said in past interviews that he was riding in a white Cadillac with Anderson and two other men when they pulled alongside Shakur and Death Row Records co-founder Marion "Suge" Knight in a black BMW. In a 2008 police interview played for the jurors, Davis said he provided the gun and Anderson opened fire.
Tupac Shakur 1996 killing
The former rap mogul was with Shakur when he was gunned down in the drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas Strip.
Shakur was in the passenger seat of a black BMW and Knight was driving. Shakur and Knight had just watched Mike Tyson defeat Bruce Seldon in a boxing match and were traveling to a nightclub where Shakur was scheduled to perform.
At a red light near the Las Vegas Strip, a white Cadillac pulled up beside them, and a shooting occurred. Shakur was shot multiple times and died six days later, while Knight survived with minor injuries.
No weapon was found in Knight and Shakur’s car, according to retired Las Vegas police Detective Clifford Mogg, who was assigned to the investigation in early 2018.
The Associated Press reported that the case went cold until Davis began making public statements about his involvement as a leader of the South Side Compton Crips.
In 2019, he published a tell-all memoir. The book, along with interviews Davis gave, revived the police investigation.
Shakur's legendary rap career was highlighted by more than 75 million records worldwide with hits including "California Love," "Changes" and "Dear Mama."
The Source: Information for this article was taken from The Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.
U.S.Crime and Public Safety
