LAS VEGAS (AP) – Attorneys for Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the man accused of murdering rap icon Tupac Shakur, have filed a motion to delay the trial scheduled for next month. The defense team argues that additional time is essential for ongoing investigative efforts to guarantee that Davis receives a fair trial.
The motion, submitted to a Nevada court on Friday, highlights developments in Davis' defense strategy. A private investigator has reportedly identified witnesses who can provide testimony indicating that Davis was not present at the scene of the shooting on September 7, 1996, nor was he in Las Vegas at the time of the incident. Furthermore, the defense suggests that another individual may have been responsible for orchestrating the shooting, and they are actively interviewing these potential witnesses.
Davis's defense team articulated in their statement that new evidence and the necessity to consult key witnesses compel them to seek a delay. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday to discuss the timing of the trial, which is currently slated to begin in March. Carl Arnold, the lead attorney for Davis, stated, “This case involves decades-old allegations, and with every new piece of evidence, it becomes increasingly clear that critical facts have yet to be fully examined.”
On the fateful night of the shooting, Shakur was in a BMW driven by Marion “Suge” Knight, the founder of Death Row Records. While idling at a red light, a white Cadillac approached and opened fire. Duane Davis, who has a history as an ex-gang leader, is charged with orchestrating Shakur's murder near the Las Vegas Strip. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge of first-degree murder and has remained in jail since his arrest in September 2023.
Davis, who was long recognized by investigators as one of the four initial suspects in the case, is the only individual to face charges. Arnold contends that Davis should not have been charged at all, citing immunity agreements that Davis claims to have made years ago with federal and local prosecutors while residing in California. However, prosecutors have countered that any such immunity was limited and assert they possess strong evidence against Davis, including his own confessions about the shooting in his memoir, “Compton Street Legend.”
In various interviews and in his memoir, Davis admitted to providing the gun used in the drive-by shooting and acknowledged he was in the vehicle during the attack. Nonetheless, his court filings suggest that his statements regarding his role in orchestrating the shooting were “done for entertainment purposes and to make money.”
Additionally, the defense is exploring witness information that indicates Shakur was relatively stable after being shot and that he unexpectedly passed away following a week of hospitalization. To support this claim, the defense is consulting with medical and forensic experts to investigate potential alternative causes of death.
