Man Arrested for 1996 Murder of Tupac Shakur Appears in Court

In a shocking development, Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the man charged in the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur, made his first court appearance on Wednesday in Las Vegas. The court proceedings, which were closely followed by media outlets, shed light on the arrest and subsequent charges against Davis.

The arrest of Davis was captured on camera by the Las Vegas Metro Police Department. The video, obtained by CBS affiliate KLAS-TV, shows an officer approaching Davis near his Henderson home on the morning of September 29. Davis, also known as “Keefy D” or "Keffe D," approached the officer and was promptly handcuffed. Multiple officers can be seen surrounding Davis, engaging in casual conversation with him before placing him in a police car.

During the transportation to the police department, Davis questioned the absence of media coverage during his arrest. "So why y'all didn't bring the media?" he can be heard asking the officers. In another clip, Davis confidently tells the officers that he is not worried about the charges, claiming, "I ain't did [expletive]."

Davis has been indicted on a charge of murder with a deadly weapon with a gang enhancement, relating to the September 1996 shooting that took the life of the hip-hop icon. Prosecutors have stated that the charge can apply to those who aided or abetted in the murder, not just the person accused of pulling the trigger. Chief Deputy District Attorney Marc DiGiacomo described Davis as the "on-ground, on-site commander" who "ordered the death" of Tupac Shakur.

It is worth noting that Davis has previously described himself as a witness to the murder in his 2019 memoir. He claimed to have been in the car that Shakur was shot from, implicating his nephew Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson as one of the individuals involved in the shooting. Anderson was killed two years after the incident.

The arrest of Davis comes after his wife's home was raided by police in July, with authorities searching for items related to the murder of Tupac Shakur. As a result, Davis has been under the radar of investigators for some time.

During his court appearance, Davis informed District Court Judge Tara Jones that he had retained counsel, but his lawyer was unable to attend the hearing. As a result, he requested a two-week continuance, which was granted by Judge Jones. Davis will next appear in court on October 19 at 9 a.m. local time.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson addressed the media during a news conference, stating that Davis was meant to be arraigned and enter a plea during his court appearance. However, due to the absence of his lawyer, this will now be delayed until his next court appearance. Once Davis pleads, the judge will set a date for a jury trial.

Wolfson also revealed that Davis will be held without bail until at least his next court appearance. He has been charged with one count of murder with the use of a deadly weapon with a gang enhancement. The arrest and subsequent indictment have brought much-needed attention to this cold case, which has been lingering for 27 years. Wolfson expressed confidence in the criminal justice system, stating that he believed there was sufficient evidence to move forward with the case.

As the investigation continues, officials have collected electronics, photos, and a copy of Davis' memoir as potential evidence. The trial will undoubtedly attract significant media attention as the world watches to see how justice will be served in the murder of Tupac Shakur.