Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the only suspect charged in the 1996 murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur, has lost his bid to have the charges dismissed. On Tuesday, Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny ruled against Davis, rejecting his argument that he had immunity deals with federal and local authorities, which he claimed shielded him from prosecution. Davis, who is 61 years old, contended that he had agreements in place while living in California that protected him from being charged. His attorney, Carl Arnold, argued that the 27-year delay in prosecuting the case violated Davis’ constitutional rights. However, Judge Kierny found no evidence of intentional misconduct regarding the delay.
Davis faces a first-degree murder charge in connection with Shakur’s shooting on the Las Vegas Strip. His trial is scheduled for March 17, though it could be delayed if Davis appeals the decision to the Nevada Supreme Court. Davis remains in custody in Las Vegas and has pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution has argued that there is strong evidence against Davis, including his own admission of involvement in the shooting. In his 2019 memoir, Davis, a former gang leader, detailed his role in the events leading up to Shakur’s death. He claimed to have provided a .40-caliber handgun to his nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, who is believed to have been the one to fire the fatal shots. The altercation between Shakur and Anderson at a casino earlier that night is said to have sparked the shooting.
Davis is the last living suspect in the case. Anderson, who had denied his involvement, died in 1998, and the two other men in the car with him are also deceased. Shakur, whose fourth album All Eyez on Me was a commercial success at the time of his death, remains one of the most influential rappers in history, known for his versatility and impact on hip-hop.
