Duane Davis Convicted in Tupac Shakur Murder Case 30 Years After Shooting

Duane "Keffe D" Davis was convicted of first degree murder on August 31 for his role in the death of rapper Tupac Shakur. The conviction comes as the 30th anniversary of the shooting is marked this Sunday. Shakur was 25 years old when he was shot during a drive by shooting in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996, and died six days later. Davis is the only person ever formally charged in the murder. Prosecutors alleged that Davis orchestrated the attack as retaliation for an earlier fight between Shakur and Davis' nephew, Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson. While prosecutors did not claim Davis fired the shots, the jury found him guilty of first degree murder, which indicates the death was intentional and premeditated. Davis will receive his sentence on October 13, and he could face life in prison without parole. The case remained unsolved for nearly three decades. Much of the evidence against Davis came from a book he co authored and interviews he gave to law enforcement. Other alleged participants in the shooting, including Anderson, Deandre "Big Dre" Smith, and Terrence "Bubble Up" Brown, have since died. Before his death, Shakur was a major star in music and film, known for hits like "California Love" and roles in movies such as "Juice." He also had a history of legal issues, including a 1994 sexual abuse accusation and a relationship with Death Row Records executive Marion "Suge" Knight, who was also in the car during the shooting but was only grazed by a bullet.