Jurors in a court in the United States, on Monday, unanimously found Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis guilty of first-degree murder with use of a deadly weapon in the 1996 Las Vegas killing of rap icon Tupac Shakur.
Following the conviction of Mr Davis, 63, who faces a life sentence, District Judge Carli Kierny, after a three-hour deliberation by a 12-member jury, ordered his remand to jail until October 13 for sentencing. Still, the defendant indicated his intention to file an appeal.
The nearly two-week trial of the nearly 30-year-old murder witnessed the Clark County prosecutors arguing that Mr Davis was a “shotcaller” for the South Side Compton Crips in Los Angeles and that he sought revenge on Shakur after the rapper attacked his nephew.
Prosecutors stated that although Mr Davis, who is the only person alive who rode in the same car as the shooter 30 years ago, was not the one who pulled the trigger, under Nevada law, someone who helps another person commit murder can be convicted of the crime.
Chief deputy district attorney Binu Palal, in his closing statement, said Mr Davis “went hunting” for Mr Shakur and Death Row Records co-founder Marion ‘Suge’ Knight after they were spotted at the MGM Grand Hotel beating up Orlando ‘Baby Lane’ Anderson, of Compton in California, because of his relationship with Mr Davis.
According to Mr Palal, “who fired is not the question” but it is a fact that while Mr Davis did not pull the trigger, he was criminally responsible for providing the gun used and ordering the attack.
Mr Palal pointed out that the shooting was premeditated, pointing to testimony and Mr Davis’ accounts that the group searched for Mr Shakur before spotting him on the road and making a U-turn.