Las Vegas Police Provide Details On Arrest Of Duane Davis In 1996 Shooting Death of Tupac Shakur

Acclaimed rapper Tupac Shakur was murdered in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas in 1996. Now, over 20 years after his death, an arrest of Duane Keith Davis was made in Las Vegas in connection to the killing.

Sheriff Kevin McMahill confirmed in a press conference that the Shakur family had been contacted. McMahill also acknowledged the decades of conspiracy theories surrounding Shakur’s tragic death, saying that despite what many assumed about the authorities’ attention on the case, the Las Vegas police always wanted to “hold the killers accountable.”

Duane Keith Davis, also known as Keefe D, has long alleged he played a role in Tupac’s death. After thorough investigations into the intricacies and gang affiliations of the killers, Las Vegas police finally arrested Davis for the September 7, 1996 murder, confirming that the bullet that killed the late rapper was fired from a white Cadillac he was riding in. Tupac was in Vegas to see a Mike Tyson-Bruce Seldon prizefight. The then 25-year-old rapper was shot four times before his death.

CHICAGO - MARCH 1994: Rapper Tupac Shakur poses for photos backstage after his performance at the Regal Theater in Chicago, Illinois in March 1994. — CHICAGO – MARCH 1994: Rapper Tupac Shakur poses for photos backstage after his performance at the Regal Theater in Chicago, Illinois in March 1994. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)

A grand jury in Clark County indicted Davis on one count of murder with use of a deadly weapon and with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang. Davis is reportedly in police custody. Davis previously recounted the shooting as an act of retaliation after Shakur and his associates beat up Davis’s nephew, Orlando Anderson, following the boxing match at the MGM Grand hotel.

Social Media Reactions

Many longtime fans of the Hip-Hop legend are relieved to see his family finally move towards getting justice for his murder.

Thank god they finally caught him, they need to lock him up for life and throw away the key.

— steven ❀ (@arianaunext) September 29, 2023

Others noted that McMahill confirmed that two detectives who previously worked on the case retired this year. Some theorize that the detectives could have been withholding information. This theory remains largely unproven.

Which officers who originally dealt with this case retired this year? ???? pic.twitter.com/env7B2LbEH

— S. (@Simply_Shingii) September 29, 2023

Many are calling for a harsh prison sentence for Davis, whose trial date is still to be announced. Tupac was known for his poetic references to the Black American experience, notable combat against toxic masculinity, and more. Shakur was a six-time Grammy nominee at the time of his death.

Man took the greatest rapper of all time from us, he don’t deserve to live…pic.twitter.com/PktpDBetw5

— am7 (@mshrfseven) September 29, 2023

Others continue to take issue with the lengthy investigation, given that Davis has long been outspoken on his gang affiliation and location at the scene of the crime.

why’d it take 27 years… we knew this!

— Damnz (fan.) (@DAMNZMARAJ) September 29, 2023

Additionally, rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, now widely known as P. Diddy, was allegedly friends with Davis at the time of the crime. Allegations continue to surface that Diddy placed a $1 million hit on Tupac and Suge Knight (the founder of Death Row Records) that instigated a fight that resulted in Shakur’s death. It remains unclear whether Diddy was actually involved in the case, and is yet to be questioned. According to ABC News, Shakur previously accused Diddy of being involved in another shooting prior to his death.