Prosecutors Urge Nevada Judge to Keep Former Gang Leader Behind Bars in Tupac Shakur Murder Case

In a court filing submitted on Thursday, prosecutors in Nevada have expressed concern for the safety of witnesses in the case against Duane “Keffe D” Davis, a former Los Angeles-area gang leader charged with orchestrating the killing of hip-hop music icon Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas over 27 years ago. The prosecutors, Marc DiGiacomo and Binu Palal, are urging the judge to keep Davis behind bars until his trial, citing credible threats made against witnesses.

According to the court filing, a list of witnesses was given to Davis' family members, and during a recorded jail telephone call, Davis' son informed him that a "green light" order had been given. Prosecutors explained that in Davis' world, a "green light" is an authorization to kill. The seriousness of these threats prompted the federal government to step in and provide resources to at least one witness to help them change their residence.

While the court filing does not indicate that Davis instructed anyone to harm anyone or that anyone associated with the case has been physically harmed, it does highlight the potential danger that witnesses may face. The prosecutors argue that these threats demonstrate both a consciousness of guilt and a danger to the community.

Prosecutors DiGiacomo and Palal were not available for comment on Friday. However, Davis' court-appointed attorneys, Robert Arroyo and Charles Cano, stated that they are reviewing the prosecution's allegations and plan to respond in court on Tuesday. They argue that Davis poses no danger to the community, is not a flight risk, and is not receiving proper medical attention in jail following a remission of his colon cancer diagnosis.

Davis, originally from Compton, California, was arrested on September 29 outside a suburban Henderson home where Las Vegas police had served a search warrant on July 17. He pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in November and is currently being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas.

The prosecutors also cite multiple “confessions” made by Davis since 2008, including police interviews, his 2019 tell-all memoir, and media interviews, as evidence of his involvement in orchestrating the September 1996 drive-by shooting that killed Shakur and wounded rap music mogul Marion “Suge” Knight. Davis is the only person still alive who was in the vehicle from which the shots were fired.

Davis' attorneys argue that his accounts were made for entertainment purposes and to make money. They contend that his descriptions of orchestrating the shooting should not be used against him. The defense team also claims that Davis did not leave town in the more than two months between the home raid and his indictment, further demonstrating that he is not a flight risk.

A hearing is scheduled on Tuesday to consider Davis' request to be released on $100,000 bail and placed under house arrest until his trial in June. However, the prosecutors argue that given Davis' repeated confessions and his role as the “shot-caller” in the murder, he should remain jailed. If convicted, Davis could face life in prison.