Jury finds Duane Davis guilty in 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur

Updated on: August 31, 2026 / 8:41 PM EDT / CBS/AP

A jury has found Duane "Keffe D" Davis guilty in the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas, marking the first conviction in a case that has gripped hip-hop fans for decades.

The jury reached its verdict in less than three hours after a weekslong trial.

Davis, 63, was convicted on a charge of murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang in Shakur's killing, and could be sentenced to life in prison. He had pleaded not guilty. The prosecution said Monday evening that the state would dismiss the gang enhancement part of the charge due to witness logistics.

After the verdict was read, Shakur's sister, Sekyiwa "Set" Shakur, cried and reached back to a person behind her. Also in the courtroom was Davis' son, who covered his face with one hand.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal told jurors in closing arguments that Davis acquired a gun and "went hunting" for Shakur and Death Row Records co-founder Marion "Suge" Knight after they beat up Davis' nephew earlier that night.

Palal acknowledged that Davis' accounts of the killing evolved…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/