Keffe D Appears Before Judge in Connection with Tupac Shakur's Killing

Las Vegas, NV – Duane Keith Davis, widely known as “Keffe D,” faced a brief court appearance on Wednesday morning following his arrest in connection with the notorious murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur.

Davis’ hearing, lasting less than a minute, took place before Judge Tierra Jones. During this appearance, Davis informed the judge that he had retained legal representation, and his attorney requested a continuance of two weeks.

In response to these developments, Judge Jones ordered Davis to return to court on Thursday, October 19th, at 9 a.m.

Originally scheduled for arraignment on charges linked to the fatal shooting of Tupac Shakur on the Las Vegas Strip on September 7, 1996, Davis now faces charges of open murder with the use of a deadly weapon, with a gang enhancement.

For decades, the identity of Shakur’s killer has remained a subject of speculation and intrigue. Recent years have seen Davis publicly discussing the circumstances surrounding Shakur’s murder—an aspect that law enforcement and prosecutors have leveraged to secure his indictment and subsequent arrest last week.

The night of the fatal shooting, Shakur and Marion “Suge” Knight, his boss at Death Row Records, were in a black BMW on Las Vegas Boulevard when a white Cadillac pulled alongside, and gunshots rang out. Inside the Cadillac were Davis, his nephew Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, Deandrae “Dre” Smith, and Terrence “T-Brown” Brown.

For a considerable time, it was widely believed that Anderson, who met an unrelated demise in 1998, was the perpetrator of the fatal shots. However, recent testimony before a Clark County grand jury has indicated that it was Dre Smith who discharged the firearm. Smith is also deceased.

Witnesses before the jury further asserted that Davis held a position of authority over the other individuals in the car, all of whom were purported members of the South Side Crips, as testified by a former Compton gang homicide detective. Witnesses claimed that no shots would have been fired without Davis’s approval.

Under Nevada law, individuals who aid in a crime can still be held accountable for it.

In the wake of Davis’ arrest, Shakur’s family members have questioned why it took 27 years to make an arrest in the case.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson addressed the timing of the arrest, stating, “We wanted to make sure we get it right. If you’re going to charge a person with murder, he has a right to believe that the system would only bring charges if there is sufficient legal evidence.”

As for what happens next, Davis remains in custody without bail, a situation that, according to Wolfson, will persist “at least until his next court appearance.” At the upcoming hearing in two weeks, Davis will be arraigned and given the opportunity to enter a plea. Wolfson anticipates that Davis will plead not guilty.

Davis will also have the option to invoke the speedy trial act, which would lead to a trial date set within 60 days. Alternatively, if Davis waives his right to a speedy trial, a trial date will be set for next year. The legal proceedings ahead are poised to bring fresh insights into the long-standing mystery of Tupac Shakur’s tragic murder.

Credits: KTNV