Lawyers for Duane “Keefe D” Davis, the man accused of orchestrating the 1996 murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur, are seeking to suppress evidence obtained during an alleged “unlawful nighttime search” of his home. Davis was arrested in 2023 and is scheduled to stand trial in August 2026. The trial was initially set for February 2026 but was postponed due to the “voluminous” amount of evidence.
According to court documents, Davis’ attorneys claim that the search warrant was approved based on a “misleading portrait” of their client as an active drug dealer, when in fact his drug convictions were 25 years old and he had been living a quiet life as a retired cancer survivor. The lawyers argue that the court overlooked the need for urgency or safety concerns that would justify a nighttime search, instead relying on generic safety theories that could apply to any search.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department had claimed that executing the warrant at night would allow them to secure the neighborhood and safely evacuate residents if Davis were to barricade himself. However, Davis’ attorneys argue that the court was not provided with an accurate representation of their client’s circumstances, leading to a “clearly erroneous factual determination.”
Davis has maintained his innocence in the murder of Tupac Shakur, despite previously providing information about the killing in a memoir and interviews. In a recent interview, Davis emphasized his innocence, stating that he was supposed to be enjoying his family life, not facing trial for a crime he claims he did not commit.
The case against Davis is significant, not only due to the high-profile nature of the victim but also because of the alleged involvement of other notable figures in the music industry. Davis’ memoir, “Compton Street Legend,” detailed an alleged meeting with Sean “Diddy” Combs, in which Combs allegedly ordered a hit on Shakur and Suge Knight.
The trial is set to begin in August 2026, and the outcome is likely to be closely watched by fans of Tupac Shakur and those interested in the ongoing investigation into his murder. The case has been the subject of numerous documentaries and books, including a recent Netflix series that examined the East Coast-West Coast rivalry and the deaths of Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G.