In a significant development that has reignited a long-standing investigation, US police have charged a former gang leader with the 1996 murder of renowned rapper Tupac Shakur. The New York-born hip-hop legend was fatally shot in a drive-by attack in Las Vegas at the age of 25.
Earlier today, September 29th, 2023, a grand jury in Nevada indicted 60-year-old Duane “Keffe D” Davis on one count of murder with a deadly weapon. Police allege that Davis orchestrated the deadly shooting in retaliation for a casino fight involving his nephew and Shakur.
The fatal altercation between Orlando Anderson, Davis’s late nephew, and Shakur at a casino played a pivotal role in the tragic event. Security camera footage displayed by police officer Jason Johansson during a news conference revealed Anderson being assaulted, which subsequently led to the retaliatory shooting of Shakur as he waited in his car at a red light.
During the press conference, prosecutor Marc DiaGiacomo described Davis, a former leader of the South Side Compton Crips street gang, as the “on-ground, on-site commander” who “ordered the death” of Shakur. Officer Johansson emphasized the persistence of the investigation, stating that the breakthrough came in 2018 when new information emerged.
In a compelling revelation, Johansson mentioned Davis’s own admissions to media outlets, stating he was in the vehicle from which the fatal shots were fired. Arrested near his Las Vegas residence, Davis is set to appear in court in the coming days. Las Vegas police (LVMPD) have released his mugshot.
In a public statement, the Las Vegas sheriff stated, “For 27 years, the family of Tupac Shakur has been waiting for justice”
