Arrest Made in the 1996 Shooting Death of Tupac Shakur
Key Suspect Arrested in Tupac Shakur Murder Case
Las Vegas authorities have officially announced the indictment of Duane Keith “Keffe D” Davis by a grand jury. He stands accused of murder with the use of a deadly weapon in connection with the tragic 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur. Davis, who is now 60 years old, was apprehended in Las Vegas on Friday morning by law enforcement. In July, investigators conducted a search of his wife’s residence in Henderson as part of the ongoing probe into the shooting incident.
Tupac Shakur tragically lost his life at the age of 25 when he was shot and killed as he was departing a boxing match on the renowned Las Vegas Strip. His untimely passing has sparked numerous conspiracy theories and prompted a lengthy investigation that has spanned decades.
For an extended period, Davis has consistently positioned himself at the crime scene, asserting that he occupied the front seat of the white Cadillac that pulled up alongside Shakur’s vehicle when gunfire erupted from the back seat, resulting in the musician’s tragic demise. Shakur sustained four gunshot wounds and succumbed to his injuries six days later.
During a Friday news conference, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill remarked, “The family of Tupac Shakur has been waiting for justice for 27 years.” McMahill continued, emphasizing the extensive duration of the investigation, which commenced on the evening of September 7th, 1996, and added, “It is far from over. It has required countless hours, spanning decades, of dedication from the dedicated men and women of our homicide division to reach the point where we stand today.”
Over an extended period, Davis consistently placed himself at the crime scene, maintaining that he occupied the front seat of the white Cadillac that pulled up beside Shakur’s vehicle. Tragically, gunfire erupted from the back seat, leading to the musician’s untimely demise. Shakur endured four gunshot wounds and succumbed to his injuries six days later.
During a press conference held on Friday, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill expressed, “The family of Tupac Shakur has been awaiting justice for 27 years.” McMahill underscored the protracted nature of the investigation, which commenced on the evening of September 7th, 1996, and remarked, “Our journey is far from over. It has demanded countless hours, spanning decades, of unwavering commitment from the dedicated men and women of our homicide division to bring us to this juncture.”
Following their departure from the hotel, Shakur and his entourage made their way to a post-fight afterparty at a local nightclub. Upon learning of the attack on Anderson, Davis “began formulating a plan to procure a firearm and retaliate against Suge Knight and Mr. Shakur,” according to Johansson.
Once he obtained a firearm, Davis, accompanied by Terrence Brown, Deandre Smith, and Anderson, boarded a white Cadillac.
“At a certain juncture while inside the white Cadillac, Mr. Davis took possession of the firearm he had acquired and passed it to the passengers seated in the rear of the vehicle,” Johansson explained.
Subsequently, the group located the black BMW carrying Shakur and Knight, opening fire through the window before swiftly departing the area.
“Douglas Johansson asserted, ‘Duane Davis assumed the role of the shot caller within this group of individuals responsible for perpetrating this crime. He masterminded the plan that was executed to carry out the criminal act.'” Johansson added that all other individuals associated with the crime have since passed away, including Anderson, who had denied involvement in the murder to CNN before succumbing to a gang-related shooting in 1998.
Johansson further explained that law enforcement had long been aware of the basic sequence of events on that fateful night but lacked sufficient evidence to advance the case. The decades-long effort to officially resolve the case received a significant boost in 2018, as per Johansson. He emphasized that Davis’ admissions regarding the crime were pivotal in the investigation.
During a search of Davis’ wife’s residence in July, police seized a copy of Davis’ memoir, which detailed his experiences within street gangs and the Shakur murder. In the memoir, Davis portrayed himself as one of the only two living witnesses to Shakur’s shooting, with the other being Knight, the former CEO of Death Row Records, who is currently incarcerated for manslaughter in an unrelated case.
When questioned about the identity of the trigger-puller among the four men in the car, Davis cryptically replied, “Going to keep it for the code of the streets. It just came from the backseat, bro.”
Johansson conveyed that law enforcement officers recognized the 2018 reexamination of the case as a pivotal opportunity to potentially solve it and bring forth criminal charges.
Tupac’s stepbrother, Mopreme Shakur, who is also a rapper, expressed mixed feelings about Davis’ arrest, describing it as “bittersweet.” He commented, “We have endured decades of pain. They have known about this guy, who has been talking for years.” He questioned the timing, asking, “So why now?” and expressed the family’s desire to uncover any potential accomplices in this long-standing mystery.
By: M Z Hossain, Editor Sky Buzz Feed
