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Tupac Shakur was murdered in Las Vegas at the height of his music career in September 1996 while driving with Suge Knight, the former founder of Tupac's then-record label, Death Row Records. The shooting allegedly occurred after a physical altercation between some Compton, California gang members, Tupac, and other Death Row Records affiliates.
Tupac's murder went unsolved for nearly 30 years. Yet, a suspect was charged on Friday with his murder. According to the Los Angeles Times, "Duane "Keffe D" Davis, 60, was taken into custody early Friday. He was indicted on a charge of murder with the use of a deadly weapon with an enhancement of intent to preserve or assist a criminal gang." Keefe D has given details about witnessing the 1996 murder of the rap legend in several interviews and his memoir, Compton Street Legend, over the years. However, the former Crip clarified that although he was a first-hand witness to the crime, he was not the trigger man.
During an interview with Vlad TV, he and Vlad discussed the content of his memoir regarding the murder; Vlad read a passage from Keefe's book: "The shit was on, Tupac made an erratic move and began to reach down beneath his seat...Instead, Pac pulled out a strap, and that's when the fireworks started. One of my guys from the back seat grabbed the Glock and started busting back. The first shot skinned Suge in the head, and I thought that (expletive) was dead. I had heard some stories supposedly that Suge used Tupac as a shield when the bullets started flying, but that's some bullshit; Suge was already wounded, and he was the one that got touched. As the rounds continued flying, I ducked down so I wouldn't get hit." In a separate interview with the podcast The Art of Dialogue, Keefe D also explained that one of the persons involved in the altercation with Death Row affiliates before the shooting was his nephew, Orlando Anderson, who was also reportedly in the car during the murder. Keefe confirmed that he's the only person still alive from (the gunman and other witnesses) he rode in the car with the night Tupac died.
Tupac Shakur's sister Sekyiwa "Set" Shakur has spoken about the recent arrest. She stated, "This is no doubt a pivotal moment. The silence of the past 27 years surrounding this case has spoken loudly in our community. It's important to me that the world, the country, the justice system, and our people acknowledge the gravity of the passing of this man, my brother, my mother's son, my father's son. His life and death matters, and should not go unsolved or unrecognized, so yes, today is a victory but I will reserve judgment until all the facts and legal proceedings are complete. There have been multiple hands involved and there remains so much surrounding the life and death of my brother Tupac and our Shakur family overall. We are seeking real justice, on all fronts."
Actress Jada Pinkett Smith, Tupac's good friend, also shared her sentiments about the break in the case on Instagram: "Now I hope we can get some answers and have some closure. R.I.P. Pac." Over the years, Jada has talked about the close friendship they shared since meeting in high school. She discusses their relationship in her upcoming memoir. Pac dedicated poetry to Jada in his book, A Rose That Grew From Concrete.
Pac was a rising star in the entertainment industry who met his demise at age 25. His artistry and legacy were so impactful that he's continuously celebrated in death. This year, he was posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In death, he was nominated for multiple Grammys and MTV Music Awards. His work was also awarded an American Music Award and an ASCAP Award. Pac was the first solo hip-hop artist to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. This year, the documentary Dear Mama, named after his hit song "Dear Mama" was released- highlighting the relationship between Tupac and his outspoken mother, Afeni Shakur, a former Black Panther/social activist. In 2022, The Tupac Shakur exhibit, "Wake Me When I'm Free," was launched in Los Angeles for a limited time. It showcased his music, poetry, cultural influences, relics of his life, ideologies, and greatly impactful but short-lived career. There are Tupac murals throughout the world. The West Coast, especially California, is flooded with murals of the seemingly immortal artist. Yet, Sierra Leone, Africa, Melbourne, Australia, Sydney, Australia, Korea, Madrid, Spain, Sevilla, Spain, and Capetown, South Africa, and many other nations memorialized the former star with the timeless honor. To see some of the iconic murals, click here.
This story is still developing; we'll give updates on the situation as we learn more. To follow this story and other news, click the link to become a Volume 82 site member.