Tupac Killer Pleads Not Guilty: What You Need to Know About Duane Davis

Tupac Killer: Tupac Shakur was one of the most iconic hip-hop artists ever and was murdered in a drive-by shooting on September 7, 1996 in Las Vegas. Since his death has been shrouded in controversy and remains unclear. Last month however, Duane Keith Davis (known as Keffe D) was finally charged with Tupac’s killing and arrested. Here are some facts you should know about him and this case:

He is a former gang leader from Compton, California

Davis was the “shot caller” for the South Side Compton Crips, an opposing gang affiliated with Mob Piru Bloods (and thus Tupac). Davis became involved in an intense feud with Tupac and his associates including Marion “Suge” Knight of Death Row Records; their dispute reached its pinnacle at MGM Grand hotel following Mike Tyson boxing match where Tupac’s entourage beat Davis’ nephew Orlando Anderson who Davis claimed had come seeking revenge on that day.

He was in the car that shot Tupac

Davis has admitted publicly to being in the front seat of a white Cadillac that pulled up alongside Tupac’s car and opened fire, although not himself as the shooter. Davis identified DeAndre “Dre” Smith who died in 1998 as being responsible for opening fire on Tupac’s vehicle; Terrence Brown who passed away in 2014 drove it. Anderson died alongside Smith but didn’t fire any shots himself, according to Davis; Terrence Brown provided him with the Glock 40 gun he obtained through a friend in Las Vegas which he obtained via Davis himself as well.

He was indicted by a grand jury in September 2021

Davis was arrested near his Las Vegas-area home on September 29 after being indicted by a Clark County grand jury on one count of open murder with use of a deadly weapon with gang enhancement, according to police. Police claimed he is currently the only living suspect involved with this homicide investigation and were “reinvigorated” when new information emerged, such as Duane Davis’ own admissions regarding involvement with this case which he provided various media outlets (filmmakers, podcasters and authors alike) about his participation and implicating others in it all.

He pleaded not guilty in court on November 2, 2021

On November 2, 2021, Davis appeared in court for his third scheduled arraignment and plead not guilty to murder charges while waiving his right to trial within 60 days. Due to financial restrictions preventing him from hiring local counsel, the court appointed a public defender as his representative instead. According to state prosecutors, no death penalty will be sought against Davis; rather if found guilty life imprisonment will ensue. His next status check in November 7 2021. His wife, son and daughter were present during this hearing as was their extended family who waved them and sought clarification of certain legal terms from judge for clarity from judge regarding legal terms used throughout.

He is the author of a memoir titled “Compton Street Legend”

Davis wrote his memoir entitled, “Compton Street Legend: Notorious Keffe D’s Street-Level Accounts of Tupac and Biggie Murders, Death Row Origins, Suge Knight, Puffy Combs and Crooked Cops”. In it he detailed his life as a gangster, drug dealer, music industry insider. Knight made claims he knew who killed The Notorious B.I.G, another rap legend killed in Los Angeles six months after Tupac was murdered, in 1997. Fouse, hired by Knight to carry out the hit, later committed suicide before being killed himself in 2003. Davis also claimed that Knight and Sean “Puffy” Combs, founder of Bad Boy Records, conspired together to assassinate Tupac and Biggie; according to Davis he was offered $1 Million by Combs as payment to kill both Tupac and Knight; both parties have denied involvement.