Could Tupac verdict inspire efforts to find killer of his rival, Notorious B.I.G.?
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Figure caption: Watch: What it was like inside court for Tupac Shakur’s murder trial verdict
By Christal Hayes, Reporting from Los Angeles and Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty, Reporting from Las Vegas courtroom
Published 1 September 2026, 11:22 BST
Updated 2 minutes ago
The conviction of Duane "Keffe D" Davis in Las Vegas has brought an end to one of the world’s most famous unsolved murder cases. He was found guilty of the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur, who died when the black BMW he was travelling in was sprayed with bullets in a drive-by shooting in 1996.
"This is huge," said former prosecutor Neama Rahmani. "It was a tough case. It’s a cold case. We’re talking about the greatest rapper of all time, an icon, and not a single arrest or prosecution for 30 years."
The conviction gives closure to Shakur’s family, and has sparked questions about what it could mean for another high-profile unsolved murder: that of Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace), who was killed in Los Angeles just months later in similar circumstances.
"Tupac’s murder and Biggie’s murder are two of the great cultural touchstones of our lives," said Justin Tinsley, a journalist for ESPN’s Andscape and author of "It Was All a Dream: Biggie and the World That Made Him." "Those two men, they were so unique, talented, and impactful, separately. But it’s impossible to tell each of their stories without telling the other’s."
Theorists have long linked the two murders. Wallace’s name emerged during Davis’ trial; he was at the same party the night Wallace was killed, and police interviewed him about it. The investigator who conducted that interview even testified at the Tupac murder trial.
The breakthrough in solving the Shakur case largely hinged on Davis’ own words, as detailed in documentaries, his memoir, podcasts, and a secret police interview. He admitted to tossing a firearm in the backseat and his nephew, Orlando Anderson (who later died), using it to shoot Shakur.
During the trial, there were no eye-witnesses, murder weapon, video or photo evidence. Davis’ defence team argued he wasn’t even in Las Vegas that night. Yet Rahmani noted, "It was a difficult case to prosecute." He highlighted the rumours and speculation surrounding the case for years.
Remember that: In light of this recent conviction, there may be renewed interest in pursuing justice for Notorious B.I.G.’s murder.
