‘Keefe D’, the former gang leader implicated in the 1996 murder of iconic rapper Tupac Shakur, has been denied bail by a judge. After an extensive investigation, he was arrested in September 2023 and charged with involvement in the drive-by shooting that ended the life of the 25 year old music legend.
Clark District Court Judge Carli Kierny turned down the defence’s request to release Duane Keith ‘Keefe D’ Davis on bond while awaiting his trial, highlighting fears of potential interference from the music industry. The Independent reported that record executive Cash ‘Wack 100’ Jones had offered to post Keefe D’s substantial $750,000 bail, but this offer was dismissed by the judge.
In his ruling, Judge Kierny expressed: “I have a sense that things are trying to be covered up,” referencing the nearly three-decade-long quest for justice following Shakur’s death. Previously, Kierny had voiced concerns about Jones acting as a “middleman” for another party potentially seeking to capitalize on Keefe D’s newfound infamy.
The defence team for Keefe D insisted they could provide evidence proving that Jones’s intentions to secure Keefe D’s release were not profit-driven but rather because he “always been a monumental person in our community … especially the urban community.”
Davis, a key figure in the 1990s gangster rap scene and known associate of NWA’s Eazy-E, was reportedly involved in the drive-by shooting that resulted in Tupac Shakur’s death. The gangster allegedly admitted to being in the vehicle used in the fatal attack, reports the Mirror.
In Nevada, a “slayer statute” prevents criminals from profiting from their crimes, adding another layer of complexity to this high-profile case. Judge Kierny became suspicious after receiving two letters from Jones’ entertainment company, one of which appeared to be signed by an unaffiliated party.
Keefe D pleaded not guilty in a Las Vegas court. The courtroom was tense during the six-minute hearing, with Davis responding to a question about his legal representation by simply saying: “No, ma’am.”
The tension escalated as public defenders took on Davis’ case. Judge Jones announced that the death penalty was no longer an option, prompting Davis to seek confirmation.
After receiving clarification, Davis breathed a sigh of relief. However, he could still face up to 30 years in prison if convicted.
His ongoing battle with cancer adds to his difficulties.
“I got cancer. I [have] been in jail eating processed food. I had colon cancer…” he told VIBE. “They serve all this processed food, they don’t serve no fruit, it’s terrible. Fake potatoes. Fake milk. Fake everything. It ain’t good for an ex-cancer patient. I got it again.
“They referred me to my cancer doctor so I went and seen him on May 8 and he said, ‘I’ll get you to do a colonoscopy in a week, CT scan in two weeks, CT scan in three weeks … They haven’t came here to do nothing. I’m in a life situation and I will do anything to save my life.”
