‘The indictment we’ve been waiting almost 3 decades for,’ says D.A. on arrest in Tupac Shakur murder

In a Friday afternoon press briefing in Las Vegas, additional details emerged regarding the arrest of a suspect in the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur, shedding light on a case that has spanned nearly three decades.

District Attorney Steve Wolfson, emphasizing the urgency of justice, quoted the maxim "justice delayed is justice denied" but swiftly added a personal amendment, declaring, "Not in this case." He disclosed that a Nevada grand jury had indicted Duane "Keefe D" Davis for the murder during a court session earlier that day. Chief Deputy District Attorney Marc DiGiacomo characterized Davis as the "on-ground, on-site commander" responsible for "ordering the death" of Shakur.

Sheriff Kevin McMahill presented a timeline of the investigation, reaching back to the Mike Tyson prize fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, setting the stage for Shakur's shooting later that night in September 1996. He clarified that individuals involved were linked to Southern California gangs. The briefing included security footage showing a group attacking a man near hotel elevators on Sept. 7, 1996. McMahill described the murder as a "retaliatory shooting" stemming from a prior fight, emphasizing that investigators lacked crucial evidence for years.

Contrary to public perception, McMahill stressed the case's ongoing importance to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The Sheriff acknowledged that progress resumed in 2018 following admissions by Davis, characterizing the subsequent years as a "systematic plan" involving numerous interviews. McMahill underscored that murder has no statute of limitations and revealed that Davis's admissions led to a search warrant executed earlier in the year, with evidence corroborating investigative findings.

District Attorney Wolfson, before concluding, cited a Shakur lyric about refusing surrender, commending investigators for upholding that spirit over 27 years. Homicide Lt. Jason Johansson hinted at revelations during the trial, asserting, "There's a lot that's going to come out."

Wolfson brandished the unsealed indictment, announcing that Davis faces a murder charge with a deadly weapon and a gang enhancement. The document stated that Davis's gang, the South Side Compton Crips, engaged in felonious activities beyond the primary offense, with specific intent to promote the gang's activities in Shakur's killing.