A Las Vegas jury has found Duane "Keffe D" Davis guilty of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon for orchestrating the 1996 killing of hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur. The 63-year-old former South Side Compton Crips gang leader was convicted on Monday in Nevada's Clark County court, marking the first conviction in a case that has captivated fans and lingered in the public imagination for nearly three decades.
Prosecutors argued that Davis served as the on-the-ground commander of the effort to kill the rapper, seeking revenge after Shakur was involved in a fight with Davis's nephew, Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson. While Davis is not believed to have fired the deadly shots himself, he is the only surviving person who was in the car during the drive-by shooting. A 12-person jury reached the unanimous verdict in less than three hours of deliberation.
Under Nevada law, those who assist another in committing murder can be convicted of the crime. Evidence presented during the two-week trial included portions of Davis's disavowed memoir, and the conviction follows an interview tour where Davis discussed his role in the shooting. Davis now faces a potential life sentence and has stated in court that he intends to appeal the ruling, bringing a measure of resolution to a cold case that had been shrouded in speculation and conspiracy.