Jury finds Duane 'Keffe D' Davis guilty of orchestrating Tupac Shakur's murder

A Las Vegas jury found Duane "Keffe D" Davis guilty of first-degree murder and using a deadly weapon to orchestrate the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur. Davis, 63, faces a sentence of life in prison without parole when he returns to court for sentencing on October 13. Prosecutors argued that Davis acted as the "shot caller" who directed the attack as revenge for a beating his nephew, Orlando Anderson, suffered at the MGM Grand casino hours before the shooting.

Palal stated that Davis has admitted to his responsibility over nearly 18 years to police, television producers, and in media interviews. Defense attorney Michael Sanft argued that Davis's memoir, published in 2019, contained inconsistencies and was co-written by an author who allegedly added details for commercial appeal. Sanft pointed out that prosecutors failed to provide hard evidence placing Davis in Las Vegas on the night of the shooting, such as surveillance footage or phone records.

Jurors deliberated for only about three hours before returning the guilty verdict. Following the announcement of the verdict, Davis raised his hand in court and stated he wanted his electronics back and planned to appeal. The judge ruled that any appeal would happen after sentencing and ordered Davis held without bail.

Outside the courtroom, Shakur's sister Sekyiwa embraced a family member and wiped her eyes, while Shakur's cousin Zayd Akinyela noted that the family had waited 30 years to grieve properly now that the truth is understood. Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal told jurors that Davis acquired a firearm, gathered his group, and went hunting for Shakur a... The defense attorney Michael Sanft countered by characterizing Davis's accounts as fiction designed to profit from public interest.