Jury convicts ex-gang member in 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur

A jury has found Duane "Keffe D" Davis guilty of murder in the 1996 shooting death of rapper Tupac Shakur, according to multiple news outlets including eNCA and BBC News. The verdict, reported on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, brings a close to a case that had remained open for three decades.

Davis, a former gang member and ex-gang leader, was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with the drive-by shooting that killed Shakur in Las Vegas. The jury reached its decision in under three hours, as reported by CNN. The trial followed Davis's arrest in 2023, which came after he published a memoir that prosecutors said included incriminating statements about his role in the killing.

The case drew widespread attention because it was the first arrest ever made in the murder of Shakur, one of hip-hop's most influential figures. Shakur was 25 years old when he was shot in September 1996 and died days later. The slaying had long been considered one of the most infamous unsolved crimes in American music history.

tupac shakur

According to The Guardian, the conviction ends a 30-year wait for justice for Shakur's family and fans. Davis's memoir, which he wrote years after the shooting, was a central piece of evidence in the trial. Prosecutors argued that the book contained admissions that tied Davis to the murder, while the defense maintained that the evidence was insufficient.

The verdict marks a rare legal resolution in a case that has fueled conspiracy theories and speculation for decades. Davis now faces sentencing, with the court expected to determine his penalty in the coming weeks. The outcome is being closely watched as a potential precedent for other cold cases involving high-profile figures.