The man accused of involvement in the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur, a crime that occurred a quarter of a century ago in a gang-feud, appeared in a US court recently.
Duane “Keefe D” Davis, who is now 60 years old, was charged last month in connection with the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas, despite not being the person who actually used the weapon.
The hearing that took place was meant to be an arraignment, but it had been delayed previously. During this hearing, Davis was expected to enter a plea for the murder charge with a deadly weapon, intending to promote, further, or assist a criminal gang.
However, the defense attorney, Ross Goodman, requested another postponement, stating that he was there to represent Davis but had not been formally hired. District Judge Tierra Jones granted the extension but emphasized the need to move the case forward within the given timeframe.
Duane “Keefe D” Davis had previously admitted his involvement in the killing, claiming that he was the “on-site commander” in the attempt to assassinate Tupac Shakur and Death Row Records boss Marion “Suge” Knight in retaliation for an assault on his nephew.
Under Nevada law, anyone who aids or abets a murder can be charged with the killing, similar to how a getaway driver can be charged with bank robbery even if they never entered the bank.
Tupac Shakur, a well-known hip-hop artist with hits like “California Love,” “Changes,” and “Dear Mama,” was a major figure in the rap world when he was fatally shot on September 7, 1996, at the age of 25. He was signed to Death Row Records, which was associated with the Mob Piru street gang at the time, which had a longstanding rivalry with the South Side Compton Crips, a group in which Duane “Keefe D” Davis was a significant figure.
Prosecutors stated last month that the events of the night of the murder had been understood for many years, but there had not been enough admissible evidence to advance the case. This changed when Davis, reportedly the sole surviving occupant of the car on the night of the murder, published an autobiography and discussed the crime in a TV show.