The family of Tupac Shakur expressed elation and relief in a statement issued after the conviction of a former Los Angeles gang leader in the rap icon’s 1996 drive-by shooting death in Las Vegas.
After just a few hours of deliberations, jurors returned a conviction on a first-degree murder charge Monday against 63-year-old Duane “Keffe D” Davis, who was accused of orchestrating the shooting as retribution for a brawl earlier that night involving his nephew and Shakur’s entourage in the MGM Grand casino lobby.
Family members, some of whom were present for weeks of testimony in the trial, released a statement thanking friends and fans of the influential 25-year-old hip-hop artist and praising Shakur’s mother.
“Above all, we honor Afeni Shakur — a mother whose strength and unshakable belief in her son’s truth carried this fight long before any of us knew where it would lead,” the family said. “The family of Tupac Amaru Shakur is elated and relieved by today’s verdict. We would like to thank the jury for thoughtfully fulfilling their duty and carefully listening to all the evidence. Our deepest appreciation goes out to our family, friends, loved ones and all of Tupac’s fans, who have always provided their love and support.
“We also want to extend our deepest gratitude to the marshals and advocates who supported and protected us throughout this process. Your steady presence and care did not go unnoticed, and we are forever grateful. While this verdict is decades in the making, this is not the end of the story. Tupac’s legacy and impact on the world lives on and we will continue to do everything we can to keep his spirit alive.
“Asé, Asé, Asé’o!”
The man who photographed rapper Tupac Shakur just moments before his death opens up about that fateful and tragic moment. Jonathan Gonzalez reports for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, 2026.
Afeni Shakur, a political activist and executor of her son’s estate, died in May 2016 at age 69 in Sausalito. She founded the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation and was CEO of record and film company Amaru Entertainment, Inc.
Her influence on her son is part of his music, including the 1995 hit “Dear Mama.”
Tupac Shakur remains a cultural icon and is considered one of the most influential and versatile rappers of all time. He was nominated for six Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.
After his death, Shakur and his influence lived on. He received a posthumous star in 2023 on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a street named after him in Oakland, and will be a character in the upcoming video adventure game “Stranger than Heaven.”
Davis’ sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 13. He faces up to life in prison.
Much of the prosecution’s case focused on the defendant’s own words about the Las Vegas shooting that stunned the hip-hop world. The case remained unsolved for decades before Davis’ public interviews and 2019 memoir helped revive scrutiny of the killing.