Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis found guilty of Tupac Shakur’s murder nearly 30 years later

Nearly three decades after the killing of rap superstar Tupac Shakur, a Las Vegas jury has delivered the first conviction in the case.

Duane “Keffe D” Davis was found guilty of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon on 31 August 2026 for orchestrating the 1996 drive-by shooting that killed Shakur.

The 63-year-old former gang leader was not accused of firing the fatal shots. Prosecutors instead argued that Davis was the “shot caller” who ordered the killing, obtained the gun and went looking for Shakur following a brawl at the MGM Grand earlier that night.

The jury returned its verdict after deliberating for less than three hours following a trial that lasted several weeks.

Davis’s own words became key evidence

A significant part of the prosecution’s case centred on statements Davis had made about the killing over the years.

Davis had spoken about his involvement in numerous media interviews and also discussed the events surrounding Shakur’s killing in his 2019 memoir, Compton Street Legend.

His defence argued that the accounts were exaggerated “fiction” intended to generate money rather than reliable admissions of his involvement in the crime.

The jury rejected that argument and convicted Davis of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon.

What happened to Tupac Shakur?

Shakur was shot in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas in 1996.

The shooting followed a brawl at the MGM Grand earlier that night.

The case remained unsolved for nearly three decades, despite continuing to attract widespread attention and speculation.

Davis’s conviction marks the first time anyone has been found guilty of Shakur’s murder.

Davis faces life in prison

Davis is being held without bail and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison following his conviction.

Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny has scheduled his sentencing hearing for 13 October 2026.

Davis has indicated that he intends to appeal the conviction.

The verdict brings a significant legal development in a murder case that remained without a conviction for almost 30 years.

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