Could Tupac Shakur’s Murder Verdict Spark New Leads in Biggie Smalls’ Death?
The recent conviction of Duane "Keffe D" Davis in the murder of Tupac Shakur has brought closure to one of the world’s most famous unsolved crimes, but could it also inspire new efforts to find the killer of his rap rival, Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls)?"
Christal Hayes and Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty
The conviction of Davis, who knew Biggie Smalls and was at the same party the night he was killed, has sparked emotions and curiosity. The two rappers were rivals, embodying the infamous East Coast-West Coast feud of the 1990s hip-hop scene.
Just as Shakur’s murder remained unsolved for 30 years, Biggie Smalls’ death, a nearly identical drive-by shooting in Los Angeles, has never led to an arrest. Davis’ trial, however, has shed new light on the case, largely due to his own admissions.
Through various interviews and a memoir, Davis acknowledged his role in Shakur’s death, stating he threw a firearm in the backseat, and his nephew, Orlando Anderson, used it to shoot Shakur. Anderson, however, denied killing Shakur.
"This is huge. It was a tough case. It’s a cold case," former prosecutor Neama Rahmani told the BBC. He noted that despite the rumors and speculation surrounding Davis for decades, the decision to charge and try him was a challenging but necessary one.
In the absence of direct evidence, the prosecution relied heavily on Davis’ words, aiming to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
