Court Hearing Scheduled for Individual Accused in 1996 Killing of Rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas

11

Duane “Keffe D” Davis, a 60-year-old who identifies himself as a gangster, is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Wednesday in Nevada, following his arrest in connection with the 1996 fatal shooting of rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas.

Davis was taken into custody last Friday while taking an early-morning stroll near his residence in the suburban area of Henderson. Shortly thereafter, a sealed grand jury indictment was revealed in the Clark County District Court, formally accusing him of murder.

The grand jury also approved additional sentence enhancements for employing a deadly weapon and purported involvement in gang-related activities. If Davis is found guilty, these additional factors could significantly lengthen his prison term.

Although Davis is currently detained without bail, he declined an interview request from The Big Big News. No legal representation for Davis is currently listed in the available court records.

Previous Coverage on Tupac Shakur

• The night Tupac Shakur was shot: An in-depth look at the events preceding the fatal incident
• Arrest in Tupac Shakur’s killing linked to the investigation into Biggie Smalls’ death
• SWAT officers detain man and woman in a home raid connected to Tupac Shakur cold case

Davis has previously been a person of interest in the case and openly confessed his involvement in the murder in various interviews, particularly before the release of his 2019 autobiographical book, “Compton Street Legend.”

In his book, Davis acknowledged the consequences of his lifestyle, writing, “When you live a gangster life, it is inevitable that the actions you take will eventually return to you; the timing and manner may be unpredictable, but the certainty of its return is not.”

Statements made by Davis in public revived the investigation, leading to his recent indictment, according to law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities. In July, Davis’ residence was raided by Las Vegas police, reigniting public interest in one of the rap genre’s most enduring enigmas.

Prosecutors assert that the murder of Shakur emanated from an East Coast-West Coast rivalry in the rap scene at the time, known as “gangsta rap.” The feud involved members of an East Coast sect of the Bloods gang affiliated with rap music executive Marion “Suge” Knight, and a West Coast sect of the Crips gang, which Davis claims to have led in Compton, California.

Friction between the parties reached a boiling point on the night of September 7, 1996, following a scuffle between Shakur and Davis’ nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, at the MGM Grand hotel-casino, after a boxing match won by Mike Tyson.

Prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo elaborated last week that both Knight and Shakur were in attendance, accompanied by members of their respective gangs. Following the altercation, Knight was driving a BMW with Shakur in the passenger seat when they were halted at a traffic light. A white Cadillac pulled up next to them, and shots were fired, ultimately leading to Shakur’s death a week later.

Davis has claimed that he was in the front passenger seat of the Cadillac and handed a .40-caliber handgun to his nephew Anderson, who he alleges fired the fatal shots from the back seat.

In the state of Nevada, aiding and abetting in a murder can result in a conviction. Among the four occupants of the Cadillac that evening, Davis is the sole survivor.

Marion “Suge” Knight, aged 58, is presently serving a 28-year sentence for a separate incident involving the death of a Compton businessman in 2015.

Kevin McMahill, Sheriff overseeing the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, rejected critiques that his department had been sluggish in investigating Shakur’s murder.

Tupac Shakur’s sister, Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, released a statement calling the arrest a “turning point,” but refrained from commending the investigative authorities.

“The enduring silence over the past 27 years regarding this case has resonated loudly within our community,” she noted.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Tupac Shakur murder case

More about Tupac Shakur murder case

• Tupac Shakur Biography
• Legal Proceedings in Nevada
• History of Gangsta Rap
• The East Coast-West Coast Hip Hop Rivalry
• The Investigation into Biggie Smalls’ Death
• Grand Jury Process in the United States
• Marion “Suge” Knight’s Legal Troubles
• Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
• Nevada Sentencing Enhancements
• The Autobiography “Compton Street Legend” by Duane “Keffe D” Davis