Tupac Shakur’s family is speaking out after Duane “Keffe D” Davis was found guilty in connection with the rapper’s 1996 murder.
A Las Vegas jury convicted Davis of first-degree murder on Monday, marking the first conviction in the nearly 30-year-old case surrounding Shakur’s killing. Prosecutors alleged that Davis orchestrated the drive-by shooting as retaliation following an altercation involving his nephew and members of Shakur’s entourage earlier that night. Davis now faces the possibility of life in prison.
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Following the verdict, Shakur’s family shared a statement expressing gratitude and relief over the outcome. The message paid particular tribute to Shakur’s late mother, Afeni Shakur, recognizing her decadeslong devotion to her son and his legacy.
“The family of Tupac Amaru Shakur is elated and relieved by today’s verdict,” the family said, thanking jurors for their attention to the evidence presented during the trial.
The statement also acknowledged the relatives, friends and fans who have supported Shakur’s family over the years, as well as the marshals and advocates who assisted and protected family members throughout the court proceedings.
While Monday’s verdict brought a major development in one of music’s most closely followed unsolved murder cases, the family emphasized that Shakur’s story and influence extend far beyond the trial.
“While this verdict is decades in the making, this is not the end of the story,” the statement continued. “Tupac’s legacy and impact on the world lives on and we will continue to do everything we can to keep his spirit alive.”
Shakur’s sister, Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, was among the family members in the courtroom when the verdict was announced. She became emotional following the decision and later embraced members of the prosecution team.
The conviction comes three decades after Shakur was shot in a drive-by attack in Las Vegas on Sept. 7, 1996. He was 25 years old when he died from his injuries days later. Davis, 63, was the only person criminally charged in connection with the killing.
The family’s statement comes from Shakur’s relatives and not from his estate, which is separate from his family.
Shakur’s influence has endured on the Billboard charts, earning three No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 during his lifetime. Those albums include Me Against the World and All Eyez on Me, while several posthumous releases also topped the chart.
