Arrest Made In Connection With 1996 Murder of Rapper Tupac Shakur In Las Vegas

(CTN News) – In a stunning development, one of the last living witnesses to the notorious 1996 drive-by shooting that claimed the life of iconic rapper Tupac Shakur has been charged with murder involving the use of a deadly weapon.

The arrest of Duane “Keffe D” Davis marks a long-awaited breakthrough in a case that has captivated the public and baffled investigators for 27 years.

The announcement came as a Nevada grand jury indicted Davis on the murder charge, according to prosecutors who made the revelation in court on Friday.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Marc DiGiacomo provided critical insights, describing Davis as the “on-ground, on-site commander” who had allegedly “ordered the death” of Tupac Shakur.

Hours before the charges were unveiled, authorities arrested Davis, who is now 60 years old, while he was taking a walk near his residence, as reported by DiGiacomo.

Davis has long been a known figure in this case, having openly admitted in interviews and his 2019 memoir, “Compton Street Legend,” that he was present in the Cadillac from which the fatal shots were fired during the September 1996 drive-by shooting.

At the time of his murder, Tupac Shakur was just 25 years old.

Evidence and Disclosure: Seized Items and Davis’ Memoir in Connection to Tupac Shakur’s Case

This development follows a mid-July police raid on a Henderson, Nevada home connected to Davis. The raid was conducted in pursuit of items relevant to Shakur’s murder, as indicated in the search warrant.

Among the items seized were multiple computers, a cellphone, a hard drive, a Vibe magazine featuring Shakur, .40-caliber bullets, photographic materials, and a copy of Davis’ memoir.

Clark County District Judge Jerry Wiese denied bail for Davis, emphasizing the importance of delivering long-overdue justice. District Attorney Steve Wolfson expressed this sentiment, stating, “It has often been said that justice delayed is justice denied. In this case, justice has been delayed, but justice won’t be denied.”

It remains unclear whether Davis has legal representation at this time. Despite numerous attempts by The Associated Press to reach him via phone and text messages over the past two months since the house raid, he has not responded or commented.

At the time of his death, Shakur’s fourth solo album, “All Eyez on Me,” remained on the charts, with over 5 million copies sold. Nominated for six Grammy Awards, Shakur is still widely recognized as one of the most influential and versatile rappers in the history of hip-hop.

In his memoir, Davis detailed his role as the front passenger in the Cadillac, where he claimed to have placed the gun used in the killing in the backseat, from which the fatal shots were allegedly fired.

Davis implicated his nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, suggesting that he was one of the two individuals in the backseat. Anderson, a known rival of Shakur, had been involved in a casino altercation with the rapper shortly before the shooting.

Following the casino brawl, Davis allegedly devised a plan to seek revenge on behalf of his nephew against both Marion “Suge” Knight and Tupac Shakur, according to DiGiacomo.

Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson passed away two years later, consistently denying any involvement in Shakur’s murder.

Cooperation and Revelation: How Keffe D’s 2010 Confession Shaped the Tupac and Biggie Murder Investigations

In his memoir, Davis revealed that he initially broke his silence during a confidential meeting with federal and local authorities in 2010. At that time, he was facing life imprisonment on drug charges.

He agreed to cooperate with authorities regarding Tupac’s killing, as well as the subsequent fatal shooting of Shakur’s rap rival, Biggie Smalls (also known as the Notorious B.I.G.), which occurred six months later.

“They offered to let me go for running a ‘criminal enterprise’ and numerous alleged murders for the truth about the Tupac and Biggie murders,” Davis wrote. “They promised they would shred the indictment and stop the grand jury if I helped them out.”

Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls were embroiled in a feud during the mid-1990s, known as the East Coast-West Coast rivalry, which dominated the hip-hop scene at that time.

Greg Kading, a retired Los Angeles police detective who extensively investigated the Tupac Shakur killing and authored a book on the subject, expressed his lack of surprise at Davis’ arrest.

He believed that Davis’ public disclosures about his role in the murder, including his memoir in 2019, rejuvenated the investigation.

“It’s those events that have given Las Vegas the ammunition and the leverage to move forward,” Kading commented. “Prior to Keffe D’s public declarations, the cases were unprosecutable as they stood.”

As the legal proceedings unfold, this latest development reignites interest in one of the most notorious and enduring mysteries in the world of hip-hop and criminal justice.

The arrest of a key witness provides a glimmer of hope for long-sought closure in the tragic murder of Tupac Shakur.

Tragic Night: The Shooting of Tupac Shakur and the Controversy Surrounding His Death

The fatal shooting of Shakur unfolded on the night of September 7, 1996, as he waited at a red traffic light near the Las Vegas Strip. Seated beside him was Marion “Suge” Knight, the founder of Death Row Records, driving a BMW.

Their vehicle was approached by a white Cadillac, from which gunshots erupted, striking Shakur multiple times. The 25-year-old rapper succumbed to his injuries a week later.

In his memoir, Davis confessed to being present inside the Cadillac during the incident.

He acknowledged discarding the firearm used in the attack into the back seat and implicated his nephew, Orlando Anderson, asserting that Anderson was one of two individuals seated in the rear of the car from which the gunfire originated.

The shooting occurred shortly after a casino altercation earlier that evening, involving Anderson, Shakur, and others.

Anderson consistently denied any involvement in Shakur’s killing. He met his demise two years later, falling victim to a shooting in Compton, California.

Within his memoir, Davis positioned himself as the solitary surviving witness among the four men within the Cadillac.

Marion “Suge” Knight, who endured the drive-by shooting, is presently serving a prison sente