Some three decades after the event transpired, a Las Vegas jury has found Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis guilty of murder for orchestrating the killing of rap legend Tupac Shakur, ending one of America’s most notorious cold cases.
Six days after being shot in a drive-by shooting by one of four men in a white Cadillac who fired 13 shots into the rap legend’s vehicle, Shakur passed away on September 13 of 1996.
During the weeks’ long, west coast trail, prosecutors painted the accused, former gang leader Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis, as someone who sought revenge and masterminding the drive-by shooting that killed the superstar rapper/writer. Allegiong that while Davis did not fire the gun that killed the musician, he orchestrated the killing in retaliation for the beating of his nephew.
After only three hours of deliberation, a jury of his peers convicted Davis of facilitating the Nevada shooting that left the musician/thespian dead at the age of 25.
Shakur’s death came amid the infamous East Coast-West Coast hip-hop feud, and was followed months later by the shooting of rival The Notorious B.I.G., Up until now, one had been charged with either killing.
Throughout the two-week trial, prosecutors called 24 witnesses and played more than eight hours of recordings, mostly of Davis himself discussing his role in the killing. In his defense, the, Davis’ lawyer, Michael Sanft presented only a brief rebuttal, calling three police investigators to testify about the killing and its aftermath.
Awaiting the judges decision as to his fate, Davis could be facing a sentence of life in prison without parole.
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Author: Al Dente
Photo: Dietmar Rabich