A former gang member named Duane “Keefe D” Davis, who had previously boasted about his involvement in the murder of rap legend Tupac Shakur 25 years ago, pleaded not guilty in a US court. Despite not being the person who wielded the weapon in the gang feud in Las Vegas, he was charged with the murder. Davis, a former member of the South Side Crips gang in Compton, had openly acknowledged his role in the killing, claiming to be the “on-site commander” seeking revenge for an assault on his nephew.
During a court hearing in Las Vegas, when asked for his plea, Davis stated, “Not guilty.” In Nevada, anyone who aids or abets a murder can be charged with the killing, similar to how a getaway driver can be charged with a bank robbery, even if they didn’t enter the bank.
Prosecutors announced that they would not seek the death penalty if Davis is convicted. The murder of Tupac Shakur, a prominent hip-hop artist, occurred on September 7, 1996, and was associated with a feud between the South Side Compton Crips and the Los Angeles street gang Mob Piru, which was linked to Death Row Records at the time.
The case gained renewed attention after Davis, reportedly the only surviving person in the car that night, published an autobiography and discussed the crime on a TV show. Statements he had made in the past would be considered in the trial, according to the Clark County District Attorney. Despite the global interest in the case, the prosecutor emphasized that their focus was on presenting evidence to a jury for the ultimate decision.
