Suspect in Tupac Shakur Killing, Davis Returns to Court

In a courtroom packed with spectators, Duane “Keefe D” Davis, 60, the man accused of involvement in the 1996 gang feud slaying of legendary rapper Tupac Shakur, appeared once again in a US court on Thursday.

Despite not being the one wielding the weapon, Davis faces murder charges related to the incident that shook the music industry a quarter of a century ago.

Originally scheduled as an arraignment, the hearing faced a delay as defense attorney Ross Goodman, representing Davis, requested additional time, citing the need for formal confirmation of his representation. District Judge Tierra Jones granted a two-week extension but emphasized the urgency of moving the case forward.

During the arraignment, Davis is expected to enter a plea for the charge of murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further, or assist a criminal gang. Davis had openly admitted his involvement in the slaying, claiming he was the “on-site commander” in the plot to kill Shakur and Death Row Records boss Marion “Suge” Knight in retaliation for an assault on his nephew.

Nevada law allows charging anyone involved in aiding or abetting a murder, akin to holding a getaway driver accountable for a bank robbery even if they did not enter the bank.

Tupac Shakur, the renowned hip-hop artist known for hits such as “California Love,” “Changes,” and “Dear Mama,” was tragically gunned down on September 7, 1996, at the age of 25. He was signed to Death Row Records, a label associated with the Los Angeles street gang Mob Piru, which had a longstanding rivalry with the South Side Compton Crips, a group in which Davis held a significant position.

Last month, prosecutors revealed that the events of that fateful night had been widely understood for years, but the lack of admissible evidence had hindered progress in the case. The tide turned when Davis, reportedly the sole surviving individual from the car on that night, published an autobiography and discussed the crime on a television show, providing the crucial breakthrough in the investigation.

The courtroom saga continues as the world watches, eager for justice in a case that has haunted the music industry and fans of Tupac Shakur for decades.