LAS VEGAS - Former gang leader Duane "Keffe D" Davis has been found guilty of orchestrating the murder of legendary rapper Tupac Shakur, marking the first conviction in the nearly 30-year-old cold case.
A jury found the 63-year-old Davis guilty of one count of murder with a deadly weapon over Shakur's death in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996.
Davis, who was dressed in a black suit, stood impassively as the verdict was read before indicating that he intended to appeal. Members of Shakur's family reportedly held hands, hugged and cried in court.
Shakur was 25 years old when he was killed at the height of his career. He remains one of the most influential figures in hip-hop history and has sold more than 75 million records worldwide.
Prosecutors argued that although Davis did not personally fire the shots that killed Shakur, he orchestrated the attack and supplied the gun allegedly used by his nephew, Orlando Anderson.
The prosecution said the shooting was planned in retaliation after Anderson was involved in a fight with Shakur and members of his entourage in Las Vegas hours before the shooting.
For nearly three decades, Shakur's murder remained one of America's most high-profile unsolved cases, gene
rating numerous conspiracy theories but resulting in no conviction until now.
The killing occurred during a period of intense rivalry between East Coast and West Coast hip-hop, as well as ongoing gang tensions involving the Bloods and Crips.
A key part of the prosecution's case centred on Davis' own public statements. He had repeatedly acknowledged being inside the white Cadillac from which the fatal shots were fired.
Davis had previously discussed his role in the events surrounding Shakur's death during a 2008 police interview connected to the investigation into the murder of rapper Christopher Wallace, popularly known as The Notorious B.I.G.
He later provided further details in his 2019 memoir, Compton Street Legend, as well as in several media interviews and documentaries.
Prosecutors argued that Davis' public statements undermined a previous protective agreement with authorities and allowed his statements to be used as evidence during the murder trial.
In closing arguments, prosecutor Binu Palal urged jurors to take Davis at his word, arguing that he had repeatedly claimed responsibility for Shakur's murder.
Palal described Davis as the leader and "shot caller" of the South Side Compton Crips.
Davis' defence team, however, argued that his statements were exaggerated stories intended to sell books and generate publicity.
Defence lawyer Michael Sanft told jurors there was insufficient evidence linking Davis directly to the murder and urged them to view his public comments as fiction and bravado.
However, within hours of receiving the case, the jury returned a guilty verdict.
Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny has scheduled Davis' sentencing for October 13. Davis has indicated that he intends to appeal the conviction.
Source: BBC