An arrest has been made in the killing of Tupac Shakur, marking a significant development in one of hip-hop’s most notorious unsolved cases.
Duane “Keffe D” Davis was apprehended on suspicion of murder early Friday morning, as reported by two officials with firsthand knowledge of the arrest. They are not authorized to speak publicly before the expected indictment later today.
The case regained attention in July when Nevada authorities executed a search warrant related to the rap star’s shooting death.
Here is what you should know about one of the most infamous fatal shootings in hip-hop history:
What’s New in the Investigation?
On Friday, authorities arrested Davis, a name long associated with Shakur’s death. He is the uncle of a man who emerged as a suspect shortly after the rapper’s murder.
Shakur was fatally shot while riding in a car on the Las Vegas Strip on September 7, 1996.
In July, a warrant was executed in Henderson at Davis’ residence. He is the uncle of Orlando Anderson, a known rival of Shakur who authorities had long suspected of shooting the rapper. At the time, Anderson denied involvement in Shakur’s killing and died two years later in an unrelated gang shooting in Compton, California.
Details from the warrant, obtained by The Associated Press, reveal that detectives collected multiple computers, a cellular telephone, documentary documents, a Vibe magazine featuring Shakur, several .40-caliber bullets, two tubs containing photographs, and a copy of Davis’ 2019 memoir, “Compton Street Legend.”
A case has been presented to a Las Vegas grand jury, and an indictment is imminent, according to a person with direct knowledge of the investigation who is not authorized to speak publicly.
What Happened the Night Shakur Was Shot?
The 25-year-old rapper was traveling in a black BMW driven by Death Row Records founder Marion “Suge” Knight, part of a convoy of about 10 cars, reportedly headed to a nightclub after watching Mike Tyson’s knockout of Bruce Seldon in a championship fight at the MGM Grand.
Following the bout, Shakur, Knight, and associates were involved in a confrontation at the hotel.
While driving down the Las Vegas Strip, a white Cadillac carrying four men pulled up alongside the BMW at a red light. One person opened fire, spraying the passenger side of Knight’s car with bullets, according to police. Shakur, seated in the passenger seat, was shot four times, at least twice in the chest. Knight was grazed by a bullet fragment or shrapnel from the car.
Shakur was rushed to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries six days later.
What Is the Rapper’s Legacy?
Shakur is one of hip-hop’s most influential figures, known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli. Despite a professional music career lasting only five years, he sold over 75 million records worldwide, including the diamond-certified album “All Eyez on Me,” featuring hits like “California Love (Remix),” “I Ain’t Mad at Cha,” and “How Do U Want It.”
Shakur boasted five No. 1 albums, including “Me Against the World” in 1995 and “All Eyez on Me” in 1996, along with three posthumous releases: “The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory” (1996), “Until the End of Time” (2001), and “Loyal to the Game” (2004).
The six-time Grammy-nominated artist was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 by Snoop Dogg.
In addition to his music career, Shakur had a significant presence in films such as John Singleton’s “Poetic Justice” with Janet Jackson and Ernest Dickerson’s “Juice.” He also played pivotal roles in “Gang Related” and “Above the Rim.”
In April, a five-part FX docuseries titled “Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur” explored the life of the rapper’s mother, Afeni Shakur, as a female leader in the Black Panther Party while tracing Tupac’s evolution as a political visionary and one of the greatest rap artists ever.
Earlier this year, Shakur was posthumously honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“He defied the distinction between art and activism,” noted radio personality Big Boy, who hosted the ceremony.
Shakur has been commemorated with museum exhibits, including “Tupac Shakur: Wake Me When I’m Free” in 2021 and “All Eyez on Me” at the Grammy Museum in 2015. Oakland officials announced plans to rename a portion of an Oakland street in his honor.
What About His Biggest Rivalry?
Shakur’s death occurred during his feud with rap rival the Notorious B.I.G., who was fatally shot six months later. Both rappers were embroiled in the infamous East Coast-West Coast rivalry, which defined the hip-hop landscape in the mid-1990s.
The feud ignited after Shakur was seriously wounded in another shooting during a robbery in the lobby of a midtown Manhattan hotel in 1994. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds and lost $40,000.
Shakur openly accused B.I.G. and Sean “Diddy” Combs of having prior knowledge of the shooting, allegations both vehemently denied. This shooting escalated the feud, causing a significant divide within the hip-hop community and among fans.
Born in New York City on June 16, 1971, Shakur later moved to Baltimore and attended the Baltimore School for the Arts, where he began crafting his raps. He eventually settled in Marin City, California, near San Francisco, continuing to write and record music.
As a member of the Grammy-nominated group Digital Underground, Shakur appeared on the 1991 track “Same Song” from “This Is an EP Release” and on the album “Sons of the P.”
In the same year, Shakur gained individual recognition with the album “2Pacalypse Now,” which produced successful singles like “Trapped” and “Brenda’s Got a Baby.”
The album, with its references to violence against police officers, drew controversy when a lawyer claimed that it incited a man accused of killing a Texas trooper. Then-Vice President Dan Quayle also criticized “2Pacalypse Now” during his 1992 dispute with Hollywood over traditional values.
In 1993, Shakur followed up with a sophomore album that included tracks like “I Get Around,” “Keep Ya Head Up,” and “Papa’z Song,” earning him an American Music Award nomination for best new rap hip-hop artist.
The following year, he collaborated with the hip-hop group Thug Life on the “Above The Rim” soundtrack and their album “Volume 1.” In an album liner photo, he famously framed his face between his two extended middle fingers.
In 1994, Shakur was convicted of sexually abusing a fan and served several months in a New York prison.
During his incarceration, Shakur expressed a reevaluation of his lifestyle, with support from Black leaders such as the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton, who counseled him while he was incarcerated.
“Thug Life, to me, is dead. If it’s real, let someone else represent it because I’m tired of it,” Shakur told Vibe magazine. “I represented it too much. I was Thug Life.”
Shakur openly confronted his troubled life in his 1995 release, “Me Against The World,” a multi-million selling album featuring tracks like “If I Die 2Nite” and “Death Around The Corner.”
“It ain’t easy being me… Will I see the penitentiary, or will I stay free?” Shakur rapped on the album, which also produced the Grammy-nominated “Dear Mama” and standout singles like “So Many Tears” and “Temptations.”
The Las Vegas shooting occurred while Shakur’s fourth solo album, “All Eyez on Me,” remained on the charts, with over 5 million copies sold.
Conclusion
Shakur’s death was a devastating blow to the hip-hop community and to the world at large. He was a gifted artist and a powerful voice for social justice, and his legacy continues to inspire and influence people around the globe. The arrest of Davis is a step towards ensuring that Shakur’s death is not forgotten, and that the truth about his murder is finally brought to light.
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