Just a few days ago, the arrest of a former gang leader allegedly involved in rapper Tupac’s 1996 murder stirred considerable interest. Nearly three decades after the tragic event, the enigma surrounding it remains largely unsolved.
Authorities were aware of the suspect’s connection to the crime, as he had previously published memoirs and given interviews, detailing his role in the case. This was highlighted by Mike Dorsey, the director of a documentary on Tupac’s death.
“When ‘Murder Rap’ was released in 2015, all they had was his proffer statement, the recording of which we already knew law enforcement couldn’t use against him. So there had to be something new to emerge after ‘Murder Rap’ for them to reopen the case. That new development occurred in 2018 when, for some reason, Keffe agreed to be interviewed for the ‘Death Row Chronicles’ series on BET, discussing the case and his alleged involvement in the shooting. From that point on, they reopened the case during that summer, within a few weeks of meeting with me,” Mike Dorsey explained.
Tupac, a West Coast native, was murdered, and six months later, his East Coast rival, rapper Notorious BIG, met the same fate just before his 25th birthday.
“I believe that Biggie was killed in revenge for Tupac’s murder. So they are connected in that way. It does shed light on potential suspects seeking revenge for Tupac’s murder. It gives you an idea of who might be behind Biggie’s murder. But I’m still unsure if solving Tupac’s case necessarily closes the case on Biggie,” the director elaborated.
The deaths of both artists have been linked to the rivalry between their respective music labels, one based in Los Angeles and the other in New York. However, some music historians argue that this rivalry was amplified for commercial reasons.
“Now 60 years old, Duane Davis was in the car from which the fatal shots that killed Tupac were fired. Although he didn’t fire the shots himself, according to U.S. law, his indirect involvement doesn’t exempt him from potential murder charges,” Dorsey noted.
