A former Los Angeles-area gang leader, Duane “Keffe D” Davis, appeared in court on Tuesday for a bail hearing regarding his alleged involvement in the killing of hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur in 1996. The judge set bail at $750,000, but Davis' court-appointed attorneys believe he can post bail. They had initially asked for bail of no more than $100,000, arguing that their client, not witnesses as the prosecutors claimed, faced danger. They also emphasized that Davis, who is 60 years old and in poor health after battling cancer, is unlikely to flee before his trial in June.

During the hearing, Davis' lawyers accused the prosecutors of misinterpreting a jail telephone recording and a list of names provided to Davis' family members. They claimed that the prosecutors misreported to the judge that Davis poses a threat to the public if he were released. The lawyers argued that Davis never threatened anyone during the phone calls and that the prosecutors' interpretation of the use of "green light" is incorrect. The reference to "green light" comes from a recording of an October jail call, which the prosecutors provided to the judge. However, the prosecution's filing did not mention Davis instructing anyone to harm someone or any physical harm associated with the case.

Davis' attorneys also questioned why the police and prosecutors waited 15 years to arrest him for the murder of Tupac Shakur if he was considered dangerous and the evidence against him was overwhelming. Prosecutors, on the other hand, pointed to Davis' own words since 2008, including police interviews, a 2019 memoir, and media statements, as strong evidence of his involvement in orchestrating the shooting.

Davis, originally from Compton, California, is the only surviving individual who was in the car from which the shots were fired in the drive-by shooting that killed Tupac Shakur and wounded rap music mogul Marion “Suge” Knight. Knight is currently serving a 28-year sentence in a California prison for an unrelated fatal shooting in 2015. Davis' lawyers noted that Knight, who is an eyewitness to the Shakur shooting, did not testify before the grand jury that indicted Davis.

Davis has pleaded not guilty to murder and has been held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas. His attorneys argue that he was granted immunity from prosecution in 2008 by an FBI and Los Angeles police task force investigating the killings of Tupac Shakur and rival rapper Christopher Wallace, also known as The Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls, six months later in Los Angeles. However, the prosecutors claim that any immunity agreement was limited.

In response to the prosecutors' submission of an audio recording of a 2008 task force interview, Davis' attorneys referred to a book published by former Los Angeles police Detective Greg Kading in 2011, which they argue made Davis' alleged involvement in Shakur's death public knowledge. They suggested that Davis is not worried about the case because it has been in the public eye for years.

If convicted at trial, Davis could face life imprisonment. The case has garnered significant attention due to the high-profile nature of Tupac Shakur's murder and the alleged involvement of a former gang leader. The bail hearing has raised questions about the evidence against Davis and the potential danger he may face if released. The trial in June will be closely watched by the media and fans of Tupac Shakur.