LAS VEGAS (AP) — A jury found Duane 'Keffe D' Davis guilty of orchestrating the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur, marking the first conviction in a case that has drawn significant attention over the years. The 63-year-old Davis was convicted on Monday of one count of murder with a deadly weapon and faces a potential life sentence. The jury deliberated for less than three hours following a trial that lasted several weeks in Las Vegas.
After the verdict was announced, Shakur's sister, Sekyiwa 'Set' Shakur, was emotional and embraced the prosecutors. Davis' son was also present in the courtroom, visibly distressed.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal, in closing arguments, stated that Davis acquired a firearm and sought out Shakur and Death Row Records co-founder Marion 'Suge' Knight after an altercation involving Davis' nephew earlier that evening. Palal noted that while Davis' accounts of the events had changed over time, one detail remained constant: Davis placed himself in a white Cadillac from which the shots were fired.
The jury, consisting of 16 members including four alternates, heard from 24 prosecution witnesses and three defense witnesses over nine days. Palal emphasized that the core facts of the case remained unchanged.
On Monday evening, the prosecution announced it would dismiss the gang enhancement aspect of the charge due to logistical issues with witnesses.
The trial has highlighted a case that has captivated hip-hop fans and true crime enthusiasts for decades. Shakur was shot on September 7, 1996, while stopped at a red light in Las Vegas and succumbed to his injuries six days later. Knight was also injured but survived the shooting.
Davis had previously made public statements claiming he was in the Cadillac and had provided the gun to others in the vehicle. He characterized the shooting as retaliation for the earlier assault on his nephew.
Under Nevada law, an individual who assists in committing murder can be convicted of the crime. Davis is the only surviving suspect among the four men prosecutors allege were in the Cadillac, with the individual who allegedly supplied the gun now deceased.
Palal informed the jury that if they accepted Davis' statements, those did not require further corroboration. He referenced the rivalry between the South Side Compton Crips and Mob Piru, as well as the fight involving Orlando 'Baby Lane' Anderson, noting that members of Shakur's group had identified Anderson and Davis as suspects on the night of the shooting.
Palal clarified that the prosecution did not claim Davis fired the weapon, but rather that he was criminally liable for providing the gun and orchestrating the attack. He argued that the shooting was premeditated, citing testimony and Davis' own accounts of searching for Shakur before the incident.
Palal referenced Davis' 2019 memoir, 'Compton Street Legend,' and played an interview where Davis encouraged readers to purchase it for the 'real truth.' He pointed out that while the book includes a disclaimer about altered facts, the main narrative remained unchanged.
Defense attorney Michael Sanft also referenced Davis' memoir, reading an excerpt that included a racial slur, which caused discomfort among those present in the overflow courtroom.
Davis had previously stated in interviews that he handed the gun to individuals in the back seat, but he has not identified who fired the shots.
In a rebuttal, prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo highlighted a scrapbook Davis maintained that contained articles about Shakur, stating, 'This guy's scrapbooking his murder.'
The prosecution's witnesses included a gang expert who described Davis as a figure whose commands younger gang members were expected to follow. Sanft questioned whether there was evidence to support that Davis had ever held such authority.
During the trial, investigators mentioned finding a hotel bill at Davis' home during a police search, but its relevance and timing were unclear.
The case, nearly 30 years old, has influenced the type of evidence that could be presented in court. Prosecutors cautioned jurors that evidence collected in the 1990s differs from contemporary law enforcement practices, including hotel surveillance footage from the night of the shooting.