Conviction in Tupac Shakur murder revives calls to solve Biggie Smalls killing
A Las Vegas jury found Duane “Keefe D” Davis guilty of ordering Tupac Shakur’s 1996 killing, prompting renewed pressure on investigators to identify the perpetrator of Christopher Wallace’s 1997 murder.
A Nevada jury convicted Duane “Keefe D” Davis this week of ordering the 1996 drive-by shooting that killed rapper Tupac Shakur. Davis was found guilty of directing his cousin, Orlando Lane, to carry out the murder and providing the weapon, according to court records.
The verdict has intensified scrutiny of the unsolved 1997 killing of Christopher Wallace, known as The Notorious B.I.G., who was shot dead in a Los Angeles drive-by on March 9, 1997. Wallace’s death has long been viewed as retaliation for Shakur’s murder.
“The Tupac verdict doesn’t necessarily help solve Biggie’s murder, but it inevitably puts it under an intense microscope,” said Justin Tinsley, author of Biggie and the World that Made Him.
Both killings are linked to gang affiliations: Shakur was associated with the Bloods, while Wallace’s manager, Sean “Diddy” Combs, has been alleged to have ties to the rival Crips. Investigators have explored numerous theories, including involvement by off-duty LAPD officers and connections to Suge Knight’s Death Row Records, but no charges have been filed in the Wallace case.
Former LAPD detective Greg Kading, who investigated both murders, cited a witness who claimed to have arranged payment for a suspected hitman, Wardell “Poochie” Fouse, to kill Wallace. Author Randall Sullivan has argued that police officers allegedly on Knight’s payroll may have coordinated the hit.
Wallace’s family previously sued the City of Los Angeles and the LAPD, alleging police negligence and possible involvement, but the lawsuits were dismissed after a mistrial and substantial legal fees.
While Davis’s conviction provides a clear “inside” figure for Shakur’s case, officials say a comparable central witness has not emerged for Wallace’s murder. “The police need somebody to corroborate evidence. Biggie needs his Keefe D moment,” Tinsley added.
Authorities say any new leads will require solid, admissible evidence. “There’s going to have to be some rock-hard evidence brought forward,” Tinsley said, noting that the Shakur verdict demonstrates that cold cases can still be pursued.