Jury finds ex-gang leader guilty of murder in Tupac killing case - Reuters

A Nevada jury on Aug. 31 found former street‑gang leader Duane “Keffe D” Davis, 63, guilty of a single count of first‑degree murder with a deadly weapon for his role in the 1996 drive‑by shooting that killed hip‑hop artist Tupac Shakur. The verdict concluded an 11‑day trial in a downtown Las Vegas courtroom, after the 12‑person jury deliberated for nearly three hours and returned a unanimous decision.

Davis, who had pleaded not guilty, was charged in Clark County with orchestrating the attack that took place on Sept. 7, 1996, when Shakur’s vehicle stopped at a red light and a white Cadillac pulled alongside, firing multiple rounds. Shakur, then 25, died six days later from his injuries. Prosecutors presented a motive that Davis sought retaliation for the beating of his nephew, a claim underscored by a statement from the Clark County District Attorney’s Office that gang “code of respect” would not allow such an offense to go unanswered.

The prosecution’s case relied heavily on material Davis himself made public after years of speculation, including media appearances, a memoir and recorded conversations from secret meetings with investigators. Police had long suspected Davis but said they lacked sufficient evidence to bring charges until those disclosures became available.

During the trial, Binu Palal of the district attorney’s office told jurors that Davis had acquired a firearm, assembled a group of men and “went hunting” for Shakur. After the verdict, several members of the gallery were observed wiping away tears and embracing a prosecutor as the court adjourned.

Following the conviction, Davis told the judge he “plans to appeal this matter.” He faces a potential sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, the maximum penalty for first‑degree murder with a deadly weapon under Nevada law.

Representatives of the Clark County District Attorney’s Office and Davis’s attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.