Tupac Shakur’s sister wiped away tears in a Las Vegas courtroom Monday as a jury convicted Duane “Keffe D” Davis of first-degree murder in the rapper’s 1996 killing. The verdict marks a major moment in hip hop biography and criminal justice, bringing long-awaited closure nearly three decades after the hip hop biography world lost one of its greatest voices.
The verdict brought a long-awaited legal milestone for Shakur’s family. At just 25 years old, the hip-hop icon was shot and killed, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire conversations about freedom struggle and cultural impact in Black excellence across generations.
“The family of Tupac Amaru Shakur is elated and relieved by today’s verdict,” his sister Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur said in a statement shared after the decision. “We would like to thank the jury for thoughtfully fulfilling their duty and carefully listening to all the evidence.”
Keffe D, a former Compton gang leader, was accused of organizing the September 7, 1996, shooting as retaliation for a fight at the MGM Grand casino earlier that night. Prosecutors relied in part on statements Davis made during a 2008 interview with authorities, subsequent public remarks and his 2019 memoir, “Compton Street Legend.”
He now faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Shakur’s family also honored his late mother, Afeni Shakur, praising her “strength and unshakable belief in her son’s truth.”
After the guilty verdict was read, Sekyiwa embraced a man sitting behind her and used a tissue to wipe her eyes.
The family thanked supporters who stayed with them through the decades-long case and said Tupac’s story continues to resonate with those seeking justice and understanding.
“This is not the end of the story,” their statement read.
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