Suspect charged in rapper Tupac Shakur’s fatal shooting makes first court appearance in Las Vegas

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In Las Vegas, Duane “Keffe D” Davis, a self-proclaimed gangster accused of orchestrating the fatal shooting of rapper Tupac Shakur in 1996, appeared in court for the first time on a murder charge. During the court appearance, Davis, 60, dressed in a dark-blue jail uniform and plastic orange slippers, requested a postponement of the hearing to secure legal representation in Las Vegas. Judge Tierra Jones rescheduled the arraignment for October 19.

Mopreme Shakur, Tupac Shakur’s stepbrother, expressed frustration over the long delay in seeking justice for his brother’s murder, citing the challenges faced by young Black men in the legal system. He emphasized that justice had been delayed for 27 years and criticized the historically slow pace of the legal process.

Davis, who was apprehended near his suburban Henderson residence last week, faces not only a murder charge but also sentencing enhancements related to the use of a deadly weapon and alleged gang activity. If convicted, these enhancements could significantly increase his sentence.

Los Angeles-based attorney Edi Faal, Davis’ long-time personal attorney, confirmed that he is assisting Davis in finding a Nevada lawyer but declined to provide further comment.

Davis had previously been a well-known suspect in the case and publicly acknowledged his involvement in the killing in interviews prior to the release of his 2019 memoir, “Compton Street Legend.” His own admissions reignited the police investigation that eventually led to his indictment.

Prosecutors argue that Shakur’s murder stemmed from a rivalry between East Coast Bloods gang members, associated with rap music mogul Marion “Suge” Knight, and West Coast Crips sect members, with Davis claiming to lead the latter in Compton, California. The fatal confrontation occurred in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996, following a brawl between Shakur and Davis’ nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, at the MGM Grand hotel-casino.

After the casino altercation, Knight and Shakur were driving near the Las Vegas Strip when they were ambushed at a red light by a white Cadillac. Gunfire erupted, resulting in Shakur being shot multiple times and ultimately succumbing to his injuries.

Davis admitted to being in the front passenger seat of the Cadillac, where he allegedly handed a .40-caliber handgun to his nephew in the back seat, from which the fatal shots were fired. Under Nevada law, a person can be convicted of murder for aiding another person in committing the crime.

Among the four individuals in the Cadillac that night, Davis is the sole survivor. Anderson died in a May 1998 shooting, denying involvement in Shakur’s death before his demise. The other backseat passenger, DeAndre “Big Dre” or “Freaky” Smith, passed away in 2004, while the driver, Terrence “Bubble Up” Brown, was killed in a 2015 shooting.

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

Sheriff Kevin McMahill, who oversees the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, refuted allegations of slow progress in the investigation, emphasizing its importance to the department.

Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, Tupac Shakur’s sister, acknowledged Davis’ arrest as a significant moment but did not commend the authorities involved in the case, noting the lengthy silence surrounding it over the past 27 years.

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More about Tupac Shakur Murder Case

• Tupac Shakur Murder Case Overview
• Details on Duane “Keffe D” Davis’s Court Appearance
• The Rivalry Leading to Tupac Shakur’s Murder
• Marion “Suge” Knight’s Current Status
• Criticism and Investigation into Tupac Shakur’s Murder