Nearly three decades after Tupac Shakur was fatally shot in Las Vegas, a jury has convicted Duane “Keffe D” Davis of first-degree murder, marking the first conviction in one of the most famous unsolved killings in hip-hop history.

The Las Vegas jury returned its verdict on August 31, 2026, after less than three hours of deliberations. Davis, 63, was accused of orchestrating the September 1996 drive-by shooting that ultimately killed the 25-year-old rapper. Associated Press coverage of the Tupac Shakur murder verdict

Duane “Keffe D” Davis Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder

Jurors found Davis guilty of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon in connection with Shakur’s killing.

Prosecutors did not allege that Davis personally fired the shots that struck Tupac. Instead, they argued that he helped organize the retaliatory attack and supplied the gun used in the shooting.

Under Nevada law, a person can be held criminally responsible for a killing even if another person ultimately pulled the trigger when prosecutors prove that person knowingly participated in the murder.

Davis has maintained his innocence and his attorneys have indicated that they plan to appeal the conviction.

What Happened to Tupac Shakur in 1996?

On the night of September 7, 1996, Shakur attended a Mike Tyson boxing match at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas with Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight and others.

After the fight, Shakur and members of his group were involved in an altercation inside the casino with Orlando Anderson, Davis’ nephew and a member of the South Side Compton Crips.

Prosecutors argued that the confrontation triggered a revenge attack later that night.

Shakur was riding in a BMW driven by Knight when a white Cadillac pulled alongside the vehicle near the Las Vegas Strip. Gunfire erupted, striking Shakur multiple times.

He died from his injuries six days later, on September 13, 1996, at age 25.

Davis’ Own Interviews Became Key Evidence

One of the most significant elements of the case came from Davis himself.

For years, Davis spoke publicly about the night Tupac was shot. He discussed the killing in interviews, conversations with investigators and documentaries, and later described events surrounding the shooting in his 2019 memoir, “Compton Street Legend.”

Those statements eventually became a central part of the prosecution’s case.

Prosecutors argued that Davis repeatedly placed himself inside the Cadillac used in the shooting and described his role in obtaining and passing along the gun.

The defense challenged those statements, arguing that Davis exaggerated or fabricated stories about his involvement to gain attention and make money.

But after hearing testimony and reviewing recordings and other evidence presented during the trial, the jury rejected the defense argument and returned a guilty verdict. AP analysis of the evidence used against Davis

Why Did the Tupac Murder Case Take Nearly 30 Years?

Shakur’s killing remained officially unsolved for decades despite enormous public attention.

The case was complicated by reluctant witnesses, gang connections, competing police investigations and the deaths of several people believed to have been involved.

Davis eventually became the only surviving person who authorities said was inside the Cadillac from which the shots were fired.

His increasingly detailed public statements helped renew investigators’ interest in the case.

Las Vegas police searched Davis’ Nevada home in July 2023, and he was arrested and charged with murder in September of that year.

The arrest marked the first time anyone had been criminally charged in connection with Tupac’s death.

Prosecutors Said the Shooting Was an Act of Revenge

According to prosecutors, Davis and three other men went looking for Shakur and Knight after the MGM Grand confrontation involving Davis’ nephew.

The prosecution argued that Davis obtained a gun and helped organize the group that eventually found Shakur’s vehicle.

Although prosecutors did not need to prove that Davis fired the fatal shots himself, they argued that his role in planning and facilitating the attack made him legally responsible for the murder.

The jury ultimately agreed.

Davis Now Faces Sentencing on October 13

The guilty verdict does not end the court proceedings.

Davis is currently scheduled to be sentenced on October 13, 2026.

He faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison. Nevada prosecutors did not seek the death penalty in the case. Reuters report on the guilty verdict and potential sentence

His defense team is also expected to challenge the verdict through an appeal.

A Historic Verdict in One of Hip-Hop’s Most Famous Cold Cases

For nearly 30 years, Tupac Shakur’s murder generated investigations, documentaries, books and countless theories about who was responsible.

The August 31 verdict represents the first criminal conviction directly connected to the rapper’s killing.

For Shakur’s family and fans, the verdict brings a significant measure of legal accountability. But it also underscores how long the case remained unresolved despite years of speculation about the people involved.

The legal process is not finished. Davis still has to be sentenced and can appeal his conviction.

But nearly three decades after Tupac Shakur’s death, a Las Vegas jury has finally delivered a guilty verdict in the case that became one of the most enduring mysteries in music history.