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

A jury in Clark County, Nevada, has convicted Duane "Keffe D" Davis, 63, of first-degree murder for his alleged role in the drive-by shooting death of hip-hop star Tupac Shakur three decades ago. The 11-day trial concluded with a guilty verdict after nearly three hours of deliberation. Davis faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.

According to prosecutors, Davis orchestrated the fatal shooting due to a long-standing feud between his gang, the South Side Compton Crips, and Shakur's associated gang, the Mob Piru. Davis' nephew had previously been beaten by Shakur's entourage, which allegedly enraged Davis. He and three others, including his nephew, went hunting for Shakur and his record executive, Marion "Suge" Knight, on the night of the murder.

Davis' lawyer, Michael Sanft, argued during the trial that his client's story couldn't be corroborated by evidence and suggested the case was tainted by police corruption. The prosecution relied heavily on Davis' 2019 memoir, "Compton Street Legend," and recordings of his secret meetings with investigators. However, none of the other men in the car have been named as the shooter, and they have since died. Davis can still be charged with murder under Nevada law, even if he did not pull the trigger.