ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
Today a man was charged with murder in a killing that took place nearly 30 years ago, a shooting that transformed the music world and became a defining moment in hip-hop. Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill announced the charges at a press conference in Las Vegas.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
KEVIN MCMAHILL: Twenty-seven years. For 27 years, the family of Tupac Shakur has been waiting for justice. We are here today to announce the arrest of 60-year-old Duane Keith Davis, aka Keefe D, for the murder of Tupac Shakur.
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
Prosecutors said Davis had been on their radar for years, but they didn't have the evidence to charge him with murder until now.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
MCMAHILL: While I know there's been many people who did not believe that the murder of Tupac Shakur was important to this police department, I'm here to tell you that was simply not the case. It was not the case back then, and it is not the case today.
SHAPIRO: Tupac released his first album in 1991. His death at age 25 only heightened his legend. And today, he is one of the towering icons of hip-hop.
(SOUNDBITE OF 2PAC SONG, "KEEP YA HEAD UP") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.