A Nevada jury on Monday found Duane “Keffe D” Davis guilty of first‑degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon in the 1996 drive‑by shooting death of rap icon Tupac Shakur.
Davis, 63, is the first person ever convicted in the nearly 30‑year‑old case and could face life in prison. Jurors deliberated for about three hours following closing arguments in the closely watched trial.
Prosecutors accused Davis of orchestrating the killing near the Las Vegas Strip. He is the only person ever charged in Shakur’s murder.
In closing arguments, prosecutors described Davis as a “shot caller” in the South Side Compton Crips and said he “went hunting” for Shakur. They argued that Davis’ memoir — which recounts the shooting — should be considered an admission, despite the presence of a co‑writer.
The defense countered that Davis’ account in the memoir was “fiction” and pointed to missing investigative records and a lack of direct evidence.
The 16‑member panel, including four alternates, heard nine days of testimony from 24 prosecution witnesses and three defense witnesses.
Davis was ordered held without bail pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Oct. 13.
Information from CNN.com and The Associated Press contributed to this report.