A Las Vegas jury on Monday found Duane Davis guilty of first-degree murder for his role in the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur, according to LAist. The 63-year-old defendant now faces a possible life sentence after the panel returned its decision following less than three hours of deliberation.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Davis obtained a firearm and directed others to pursue Shakur and Marion Knight after an earlier altercation involving Davis's nephew. Davis was inside the white Cadillac from which shots were fired at the rapper's vehicle on September 7, 1996, the state argued.
Shakur died six days later from his injuries while Knight survived. The case remained unsolved for years until Davis made public statements placing himself at the scene and describing the events as retaliation tied to gang rivalries between the South Side Compton Crips and Mob Piru.
Under Nevada law, individuals who assist in a murder can be held criminally responsible even if they did not fire the weapon. Davis is the sole survivor among the four men prosecutors identified as occupants of the Cadillac at the time of the attack.
The prosecution called 24 witnesses over nine days and emphasized that Davis's accounts consistently placed him in the vehicle despite shifts in other details. Defense counsel countered that the statements were motivated by financial gain from a memoir and interviews.
After the verdict, Shakur's sister embraced the prosecutors in the courtroom while Davis's son covered his face. The state later indicated it would drop a gang enhancement allegation due to issues with witness availability.
The trial highlighted the enduring public interest in the case, which has long drawn attention from hip-hop followers and investigators. Davis is scheduled for sentencing at a later date.
This report is based on coverage by LAist: https://laist.com/news/criminal-justice/jury-convicts-man-murder-996-killing-rap-icon-tupac-shakur