Former gang leader convicted of first degree murder for 1996 killing of iconic rapper Tupac Shakur

Prosecutors have not accused Davis of pulling the trigger on the gun that killed Shakur in Las Vegas, but he has been accused of being the person who orchestrated the murder.

Published: August 31, 2026 8:52pm

Former Los Angeles gang leader Duane "Keffe D" Davis was convicted Monday of first degree murder for orchestrating the 1996 murder of the late-iconic rapper Tupac Shakur.

Prosecutors have not accused Davis of pulling the trigger on the gun that killed Shakur in Las Vegas, but he has been accused of being the person who orchestrated the murder. He is the only person charged in the case, according to the Associated Press.

The conviction comes after Davis published a memoir in 2019 called "Compton Street Legend," which discussed the drive-by shooting and in which he admitted to being in the car during the crime.

Davis told Judge Carli Kierny after the jury read its decision that he intends to appeal the verdict and she scheduled Davis' sentencing for October 13. She ordered Davis to be held without bond pending the sentencing hearing, according to CNN

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.  

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