Duane ‘Keefe D’ Davis Murder Charge for 1996 Death of 2Pac Upheld in Court

Duane “Keefe D” Davis will not have his murder charge dismissed for his alleged role in the September 1996 shooting death of Tupac Shakur.

Per the Associated Press, Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny ruled on Tuesday (Jan. 21) that Davis’ murder charge will stand as he hasn’t shown any proof of immunity in regard to deals he struck with federal or local law enforcement authorities in California.

Davis’ attorney, Carl Arnold, is mulling a decision to exercise their option to appeal the decision to the state’s Supreme Court. Arnold reportedly called Davis’ indictment an “egregious” violation of his client’s rights due to the 27-year layoff between 2Pac’s murder and the charges.

Prosecutors believe they have a strong case against Davis, who wrote about being present for the rap legend’s murder in his 2019 tell-all memoir.

Shakur was shot on Sept. 7, 1996 in a drive-by shooting which authorities believe Davis orchestrated with others in the car following a brawl at the MGM Grand casino in Las Vegas. Pac and Davis’ nephew Orlando Anderson got into a heated argument on the casino floor after Mike Tyson’s first-round knockout of Bruce Seldon.

Nearly three decades later, Davis was arrested in September 2023 and charged with one count of murder with a deadly weapon in connection to the Las Vegas shooting of Tupac Shakur. The Death Row rapper ultimately succumbed to his injuries six days later on Sept. 13, 1996.

Davis was ready to post bail and move to house arrest conditions last June, but Judge Kierny had concerns over the legitimacy of the $750,000 in funds. He’s since been denied bail and Davis’ trial is set to begin in March.