Las Vegas, NV – In a stunning turn of events, Duane Keith Davis, also known as “Keffe D,” pleaded not guilty in a Las Vegas court on November 2 for his alleged involvement in the murder of iconic rapper Tupac Shakur. Davis, 60 years old, is facing charges of murder with use of a deadly weapon in a gang-related homicide. The shooting, which occurred on September 7, 1996, had long been a subject of conspiracy theories due to Shakur’s influential status in the hip-hop community. Davis, the only remaining suspect in the case, was arrested on September 29 and has been held without bail since then.
The prosecution has confirmed that they will not be seeking the death penalty against Davis. His case has experienced delays due to his attempts to secure legal representation, with Las Vegas attorney Ross Goodman initially expected to take his case. However, Goodman is no longer representing Davis, stating that the terms of their agreement were not met. Following the hearing, Goodman expressed his support for Davis and expressed hope to continue representing him pending the necessary financial resources.
Davis had publicly claimed to have been present at the scene of Shakur’s murder, stating that he was in the front seat of a white Cadillac when the shots were fired at Shakur’s car. Authorities allege that Davis orchestrated the plot to seek revenge against Shakur and Marion “Suge” Knight, then-CEO of Death Row Records, due to an attack on Davis’ nephew by members affiliated with Death Row Records. Shakur and Knight were both associated with the Mob Piru gang, while Davis and his nephew were associated with the Southside Compton Crips.
The fatal shooting took place in Las Vegas while Shakur was in the city to attend a boxing match at the MGM Grand Hotel. After the match, members of Death Row Records were involved in an altercation with Davis’ nephew near an elevator bank. Davis subsequently devised a plan to retaliate against Knight and Shakur, obtaining a firearm and enlisting the help of others, including Terrence Brown and Deandre Smith. Davis, according to authorities, served as the orchestrator and the one who provided the gun to the other individuals involved. Subsequently, someone pulled the trigger, resulting in Shakur’s death.
Davis had previously confessed to his role in the crime in 2009 but could not be charged due to a proffer agreement. However, in 2018, the investigation was reinvigorated, in part due to Davis’ admissions. Authorities searched Davis’ wife’s home in Henderson, Nevada, in July, looking for any documents or writings related to the shooting. They discovered a copy of Davis’ memoir, in which he divulged information about street gang life and the shooting of Shakur, highlighting himself and Knight as the only remaining witnesses to the crime.
