The man accused of orchestrating rapper Tupac Shakur’s killing in 1996 has been found guilty of first-degree murder with use of a deadly weapon in the killing of Shakur in Las Vegas nearly 30 years ago.For two weeks, Clark County prosecutors argued that Duane “Keffe D” Davis, 63, was a former “shotcaller” for the South Side Compton Crips in Los Angeles and that he sought revenge on Shakur after the beloved rapper attacked his nephew.Davis was not charged with pulling the fatal trigger.Under Nevada law, someone who helps another person commit murder can be convicted of the crime.Davis is the only person still alive who rode in the same car as the shooter, prosecutors said.The trial answered, in part, a decadeslong mystery that for years has entranced hip-hop fans, true crime experts and conspiracy theorists alike.
Shakur, who was 25 when he died, was revered as one of the most influential rappers of all time and continues to bring in new generations of listeners.Chief Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal said in his closing statement that Davis “went hunting” for Shakur and Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight after they were spotted at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas beating up Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, also known as the “prince” of Compton because of his relationship to Davis.Jurors watched grainy VHS security video and heard multiple former law enforcement officers testify about the now infamous fight that broke out a few hours before Shakur and Knight were wounded in a drive-by shooting.Knight survived his injuries, but Shakur died six days later.In 2008, Davis entered into an agreement with federal investigators who were looking into the death of Marion Wallace, the rapper known as Notorious B.I.G.Davis believed that the deal, called a proffer, gave him immunity but he was not shielded from future prosecution if he confessed to being involved in Shakur’s murder.
Because of the proffer, Davis described details of Sh...