A former member of the South Side Crips gang, Duane “Keefe D” Davis, who has long been implicated in the murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur 25 years ago, has entered a not guilty plea in a US court.
Despite being charged with the murder in September, Davis, now 60, asserts that he wasn’t the one wielding the weapon during the Las Vegas gang conflict.
Davis, once associated with Compton’s South Side Crips, had previously admitted his involvement, stating that he acted as the “on-site commander” seeking retribution for an attack on his nephew.
During a recent court appearance in Las Vegas, Davis refuted the murder charge with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further, or assist a criminal gang.
According to Nevada law, aiding or abetting a murder can result in a murder charge. Prosecutors declared that they would not pursue the death penalty if Davis is found guilty.
The renowned hip-hop artist Tupac Shakur was killed on September 7, 1996, at the age of 25. Associated with Death Row Records, he was linked to the Los Angeles street gang Mob Piru, which had an ongoing feud with the South Side Compton Crips.
Prosecutors faced challenges in presenting admissible evidence until Davis disclosed details about the crime in an autobiography and a TV show.
Statements made by Davis in the past will be considered during the trial. Despite the widespread attention the case has garnered, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson underscored that the primary focus remains on presenting evidence to the jury for their ultimate decision.
