Gabrielle Bolton 
On September 7, 1996, the shocking news of infamous rapper and actor Tupac Shakur’s death created quite a stir. The tragic incident took place in Las Vegas, where Tupac was said to be attending a Mike Tyson boxing match. After stopping at a red light at Koval Lane and East Flamingo Road, a drive-by shooting occurred, leaving him riddled with gunshot wounds. He was rushed to the hospital where he fought for six days, before eventually passing away due to his injuries on September 13, 1996. His untimely death at only age 25 sent shockwaves throughout the music industry and his fans all across the world.
The music industry was significantly impacted by Tupac’s passing. He was an advocate for the underprivileged, and often spoke out on political and social concerns. He became a hip-hop icon thanks to the millions of people who connected with his lyrics. Even after his passing, Tupac’s legacy continued. His well-known records, such as “All Eyez on Me” and “Me Against the World” have impacted countless modern day artists. Tupac’s legacy as an artist and activist lives on, and his impact on popular culture is still felt in countless ways today.
The circumstances surrounding Tupac’s shooting remained a mystery for quite a long time. Despite extensive investigations, the case remained unsolved for years, leaving many with their questions unanswered. As to be expected, conspiracy theories have popped up over the years, adding to many’s intrigue surrounding the case. As part of the investigation into Tupac’s death, Las Vegas police executed a search warrant on a house in Henderson, Nevada in July 2023. The residence belonged to Duane “Keefe D” Davis’s wife, it was later discovered, who was previously known to have been in the front seat of the White Cadillac the fatal shots originated from. On the morning of September 29, 2023, Davis was consequently detained in connection with the killing of Tupac.
CNN reported that when police searched his wife’s home in July, they seized a copy of the memoir Compton Street Legend which Davis, now 60, authored detailing street gang life and the murder of Tupac. In the memoir, Davis describes himself as one of only two living witnesses to Shakur’s shooting, the other being the infamous Marion ‘Suge’ Knight, former CEO of Death Row Records, who is currently serving time in prison for manslaughter in an unrelated case.
When asked about the four men in the car and who was responsible the shooting, Davis said, “Going to keep it for the code of the streets. It just came from the backseat, bro.”
Police department’s homicide lieutenant Jason Johansson claims Davis was the shot-caller of the group, orchestrating the plan for Tupac’s death. He goes on to admit police have known the series of events that occurred that night for a long while, but had previously lacked the evidence to bring it forth.
According to the Associated Press, Davis has been arrested and charged with murder.
I think it’s safe to say we weren’t expecting new news on this case for a long time, but one thing’s for sure, you’re going to want to keep your eyes peeled for new developments on the Tupac/Davis case in the coming months.
By Gabrielle Bolton, Freshman, Howard University
Instagram: @missxxbolton
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