Duane “Keffe D” Davis, accused of the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur, made his first court appearance this week. The case has been delayed until October 19 due to the absence of Davis’ lawyer. On that date, Davis will be required to enter a plea, which may result in a trial by jury. Davis could face life in prison if convicted of the crime.
Davis has been denied bail and will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance. The indictment, issued by a Nevada grand jury, charges Davis with murder with use of a deadly weapon, a gang enhancement, and other counts. Davis was arrested on September 29 in connection with these charges.
Tupac Shakur was only 25 years old when he was gunned down in a drive-by shooting on the Las Vegas Strip on September 7, 1996. According to Chief Deputy District Attorney Marc DiGiacomo, Davis was the ringleader of the crime, ordering Shakur’s death.
Despite the case being more than 27 years old, the district attorney’s office decided to move forward with the charges. During a press conference, DiGiacomo acknowledged the challenges of such an old case but remained hopeful that justice could still be served. He explained that their case is based on more than just Davis’ book, but declined to elaborate further, stating that the investigation is ongoing.
Davis’ book, published in 2019, provides an account of the shooting that contradicts previous reports.
Davis has been a person of interest to investigators for some time. In July, his wife’s home was searched by police who were looking for evidence related to Shakur’s murder. Officials seized electronics, photos, and a copy of Davis’ book. It is not clear if any of the seized items will be used as evidence in the case.