LAS VEGAS — The legal representatives for Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the individual accused of murdering the legendary rapper Tupac Shakur, are seeking to postpone his upcoming trial scheduled for next month. They argue that additional time is essential for further investigative work to guarantee that Davis receives a fair trial. This motion was presented in a Nevada court on Friday, shedding light on the defense strategy, which highlights the engagement of a private investigator capable of locating witnesses who can affirm that Davis was neither present at the scene of the infamous 1996 shooting nor even in Las Vegas during that time.
Furthermore, the motion hints at the possibility that other individuals may have been responsible for planning the shooting, and mentions that discussions with witnesses who might be able to provide testimonies on this topic are in progress. The defense team has issued a statement stressing that due to the emergence of new evidence and the necessity to speak with crucial witnesses, a delay in the trial is warranted. A hearing is set for Tuesday to examine the timeline for the trial, which is currently slated to start in March.
“This case involves allegations that date back several decades, and with each new piece of evidence, it becomes increasingly apparent that not all critical facts have received thorough scrutiny,” stated Carl Arnold, the lead attorney for Davis.
On the night of September 7, 1996, Tupac Shakur was in a BMW driven by Marion “Suge” Knight, the founder of Death Row Records. While they were waiting at a red light, a white Cadillac approached, and gunfire erupted. Davis, known for his leadership in a gang, is alleged to have orchestrated the shooting of Shakur on the Las Vegas Strip. He has pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder charge and has been in custody following his arrest in September 2023.
Davis has been recognized by investigators as one of the four suspects identified early in the case; however, he is the only one to face charges thus far. Arnold has maintained that Davis’s prosecution should not have occurred due to immunity agreements purportedly established years ago with both federal and local authorities while he resided in California.
Prosecutors have countered that any such immunity agreements were limited, asserting that they possess substantial evidence against Davis, including his personal narratives regarding the shooting as outlined in his memoir, “Compton Street Legend.”
In various interviews as well as his memoir, Davis has acknowledged that he supplied the firearm used in the drive-by attack and that he was present in the vehicle. However, his legal filings claim that his recent descriptions of planning the shooting were primarily made for entertainment value and profit.
The defense lawyers are also alleging that they have acquired witness accounts indicating that Shakur remained in stable condition immediately following the assault and that his death occurred unexpectedly after a week of hospitalization. They are currently consulting with medical and forensic experts to explore possible alternative explanations for Shakur’s death.
