A quarter of a century after Tupac Shakur was shot dead in a gang fight in Las Vegas, a man was charged with his murder on Friday; a murder that became a symbol of the violence of “gangsta rap” as it made the transition to mainstream music.
Duane “Keffe D” Davis (60) has admitted for years his involvement in the murder and claims he was the “commander on the scene” in the attempt to bring Shakur and the head of Death Row Records, Marion “Suge” Knight killing a family member in retaliation for an assault.
Davis was arrested in the early hours of Friday morning after a 27-year investigation by the police. However, progress has been hampered by an apparent lack of usable evidence. The arrest was made two months after the police also raided Davis’ home in Henderson, just outside Las Vegas.
“The assumption is that he is responsible for the murder of Tupac Shakur and will be found guilty of murder with the use of a deadly weapon,” prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo told the court in Nevada.
Shakur, the best-selling artist responsible for hits such as “California Love”, “Changes” and “Dear Mama”, was already a huge star in the rap world when he was shot dead on September 7, 1996. He was only 25 years old.
He had a contract with Death Row Records.
AFTER 27 YEARS, TUPAC SHAKUR MURDERER, DUANE ‘KEEFE D’ DAVIS OFFICIALLY CHARGED BY POLICE
The investigation began in September 1996. pic.twitter.com/eJVBR9mF29— Dr Toolz ♈️ (@toolzmoney) September 30, 2023
According to DiGiacomo, Shakur and Knight were in Las Vegas where they were going to watch a Mike Tyson fight. Their attackers ambushed them in a vehicle. Knight was shot in the head and Shakur was also hit several times.
He died days later in a hospital. Knight survived the attack.
Although investigators have believed for years that they know what happened, they did not have enough evidence for a watertight case. That changed when Davis, believed to be the only person in the vehicle still alive today, launched an autobiography and talked about the crime on a TV show.
He admitted that he was in the front of the vehicle and that he was in charge of the attack on the two.
Davis will appear in court again next week.
