The longtime suspect asked for seized property to be returned and told the judge he intends to appeal his conviction.
LAS VEGAS, NV — Duane “Keffe D” Davis spoke briefly in court after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder in the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur, telling the judge he wanted seized belongings returned and planned to appeal the verdict.
Davis, 63, was convicted Aug. 31 after jurors deliberated for less than three hours following a trial centered heavily on statements he made over many years about the fatal drive-by shooting. Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny ordered Davis held without bail and scheduled sentencing for Oct. 13. He faces a potential sentence of life in prison.
After Kierny ordered him detained, Davis raised his hand and addressed the court. “I’d like to have my stuff back. Computers, all the phones, everything,” Davis said, according to Court TV. He then added, “And I would like to appeal this matter.” Kierny told Davis that he had a right to appeal but that the process would come after sentencing.
The verdict marked the first conviction in the killing of Shakur, one of the most influential artists in hip-hop history. Shakur was 25 when he was shot Sept. 7, 1996, while riding in a BMW driven by Death Row Records founder Marion “Suge” Knight near the Las Vegas Strip. A white Cadillac pulled alongside the BMW at a red light and gunfire followed. Knight survived. Shakur died six days later.
Prosecutors did not accuse Davis of firing the fatal shots. Instead, they argued that he helped organize the attack, obtained the firearm and was riding in the Cadillac when the shooting occurred. Under Nevada law, prosecutors could pursue a murder conviction based on his alleged role in arranging and assisting the killing even if he was not the gunman.
The prosecution relied heavily on Davis’ own accounts of the shooting. Jurors heard recordings and evidence involving statements he made during interviews with investigators, media appearances and his 2019 memoir, “Compton Street Legend.” Prosecutors said Davis repeatedly placed himself in the Cadillac and described handing a gun to people in the back seat before the shooting.
Davis’ defense challenged those statements throughout the trial. Attorney Michael Sanft argued that his client had exaggerated or fictionalized stories about the killing and that prosecutors lacked enough independent evidence to prove those accounts were true. During closing arguments, Sanft questioned why Davis had not been prosecuted decades earlier if authorities believed his statements amounted to a genuine confession.
Prosecutors argued that Davis’ changing motivations did not make his central account false. They told jurors that his statements over many years remained consistent on important points, including his presence in the Cadillac and his role in providing the weapon. Prosecutors also presented testimony and other circumstantial evidence about the events surrounding the shooting.
The killing followed a confrontation earlier that night at the MGM Grand. Evidence presented at trial showed Shakur and members of his group were involved in the beating of Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, Davis’ nephew. Prosecutors said Davis and three other men then searched for Shakur and Knight in retaliation. Davis had described traveling with the group in a white Cadillac. The three other men prosecutors said were in the vehicle have since died.
The case remained unresolved for decades, even as Davis became increasingly public about what he said he knew. Police had long considered him a suspect, but prosecutors said his later interviews, memoir and recorded conversations with investigators provided important evidence used to build the eventual case. Davis was indicted in 2023 and pleaded not guilty.
Members of both Shakur’s and Davis’ families were in the courtroom when the verdict was announced. Shakur’s sister, Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, became emotional after jurors confirmed the guilty verdict. Shakur’s family later said it was relieved by the decision and thanked jurors, supporters and fans who had followed the case for years.
Prosecutors had also planned to pursue a gang-related enhancement connected to the murder charge but said after the verdict that they would dismiss that portion because of logistical issues involving a witness. The conviction for first-degree murder with a deadly weapon remains in place.
Davis is scheduled to return to court for sentencing Oct. 13. His statement after the verdict indicated that the nearly 30-year-old murder case could continue through an appeal even after his sentence is imposed.
Author note: Last updated September 1, 2026.