US authorities have made a significant breakthrough in the long-standing case of rapper Tupac Shakur’s 1996 murder, charging Duane “Keffe D” Davis, a former gang leader, with one count of murder with a deadly weapon. The hip-hop icon from New York was tragically shot four times at the age of 25 during a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas.
The arrest of Davis, 60, occurred near his residence in Las Vegas, and he is expected to appear in court soon. The indictment alleges that Davis orchestrated the fatal attack as retaliation for a casino brawl involving his nephew and Tupac Shakur. The arrest of Davis marks a crucial development in a case that has captured public interest for years.
Greg Kading, a retired Los Angeles police detective who dedicated extensive efforts to investigating Shakur’s murder, expressed little surprise at Davis’ arrest. According to Kading, Davis is now the sole surviving key figure connected to the case, as all other direct conspirators or participants have since passed away.
In court, prosecutor Marc DiaGiacomo characterized Davis, a former leader of the South Side Compton Crips street gang, as the person who on-site and on the ground “ordered the death” of Tupac Shakur. During a subsequent news conference, Officer Jason Johansson explained the circumstances that led to this breakthrough.
Johansson revealed that a casino altercation between Shakur and Orlando Anderson, the late nephew of the suspect, had taken place shortly before the rapper was shot on September 7, 1996. Security camera footage from the casino depicted Anderson being assaulted, which ultimately triggered the retaliatory shooting of Shakur as he sat at a red light in his car. The officer emphasized that this incident was quickly identified as a gang-related crime but took until 2018 to be reinvigorated with new information.
Officer Johansson also noted that Davis had made statements to the media in which he admitted to being in the vehicle from which the fatal shots were fired.
Sheriff Kevin McMahill, visibly moved during the press conference, acknowledged that the family of Tupac Shakur had waited for justice for 27 years. He dispelled the notion that the police department had ever considered Shakur’s murder as unimportant and reaffirmed their commitment to holding those responsible accountable.
Tupac Shakur, known by his stage name 2Pac, released his debut album in 1991 and became one of hip-hop’s most revered figures. His untimely death has been the subject of numerous documentaries. With over 75 million records sold worldwide, he achieved chart-topping success with songs like California Love, All Eyez On Me, and Changes. Shakur also made a mark in the world of acting, starring in films such as Juice, Poetic Justice, Above The Rim, Gridlock’d, and Gang Related. In June of the current year, he was posthumously honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
