LAS VEGAS (AP) — Attorneys representing Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the man suspected of murdering rap legend Tupac Shakur, have requested a postponement of the upcoming trial, citing the need for additional investigative work to guarantee Davis receives a fair trial. The motion was submitted on Friday in a Nevada court and aims to provide more time to explore new developments that may significantly impact the case.
The recent motion reveals that a private investigator has uncovered potential witnesses who could testify that Davis was not present during the fatal shooting on September 7, 1996, and that he was not in Las Vegas at that time. Furthermore, the defense suggests that an alternative individual may have orchestrated the shooting, and they are currently interviewing witnesses who may provide insights regarding this claim.
The defense team emphasized in a statement that the examination of new evidence and the investigation of key witnesses warrant a delay in the trial proceedings. A hearing to discuss the trial's timing is scheduled for Tuesday, and it is currently set to commence in March. Attorney Carl Arnold, who leads Davis's defense, commented, “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.”
The tragic shooting took place while Tupac Shakur was in a BMW, driven by Death Row Records founder Marion “Suge” Knight, who was waiting at a red light when a white Cadillac approached and gunfire erupted. Davis, a former gang leader, has been charged with first-degree murder and has pleaded not guilty. He has been in jail since his arrest in September 2023, and while he was long recognized by investigators as one of four suspects identified during the initial investigation, he is the only person to face charges.
Arnold has further argued that Davis should never have been charged due to immunity agreements he claims to have made with federal and local prosecutors while residing in California. Prosecutors counter this argument, stating that any potential immunity agreement was limited and that they possess strong evidence against Davis, including his own admissions in his memoir, “Compton Street Legend.”
In various interviews and in his memoir, Davis has admitted to providing the gun used in the drive-by shooting and acknowledged his presence in the vehicle. However, his court filings assert that his statements regarding orchestrating the murder were intended for entertainment purposes and financial gain rather than factual recounting.
The defense attorneys have also presented witness information indicating that Tupac Shakur was initially stable after being shot but died unexpectedly after a week-long hospitalization. They are currently consulting with medical and forensic experts to investigate potential alternative causes of his death, which may influence the case’s direction. The intertwining of these elements, including witness testimony, statements made by Davis, and the examination of medical evidence, contribute to a complex legal scenario surrounding the prolonged question of who was ultimately responsible for Shakur's untimely death.
