Judge Denies Release of Ex-Gang Leader Accused of Killing Tupac Shakur

A Las Vegas judge on Tuesday denied bail to Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the former Los Angeles gang leader accused in the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur.

Davis, who was arrested in September 2023, stands as the only individual ever charged in connection with the shooting that claimed Shakur’s life, a case that has sparked widespread speculation and intrigue for nearly three decades.

Prosecutors say the gunfire that killed Shakur in Las Vegas was a result of competition between East Coast members of the Bloods gang and West Coast groups of the Crips gang, which reportedly included Davis. As the only living person allegedly involved in the infamous drive-by shooting that killed Shakur and injured rap mogul Marion “Suge” Knight, Davis maintains his innocence, pleading not guilty to the first-degree murder charge.

Davis has continued to request for bond —set at $750,000 since his September 2023 arrest—and has faced repeated denials. On Tuesday, Clark District Court Judge Carli Kierny denied bail, citing concerns over the legitimacy of the funds being offered for Davis’ release.

During the hearing, Kierny expressed doubts about the transparency of the funds, suggesting that efforts might be underway to conceal their true origin. This skepticism arose after the judge received two nearly identical letters from the entertainment company supposedly fronting the money. One of these letters bore a signature unconnected to the company, further fueling Kierny’s concerns.

“I have a sense that things are trying to be covered up,” Kierny said.

The bond is reportedly being underwritten by Cash “Wack 100” Jones, a music executive known for managing artists like Johnathan “Blueface” Porter and Jayceon “The Game” Taylor. Jones testified in June that his motivation stems from a desire to support Davis, who is battling cancer and has “been a monumental person in our community…especially the urban community.”

Tuesday’s decision comes after an attorney for Davis said he would provide additional financial records to prove that Davis and the music record executive aren’t planning to reap profits from the sale of Davis’ life story and that the money was legally obtained.

However, Kierny remains unconvinced that Jones and Davis aren’t attempting to profit from the situation, particularly in light of Nevada’s “slayer statute,” which forbids convicted killers from benefiting financially from their crimes.

Similar laws have been proposed in states such as in New York following the arrest of Rex Heuermann, 60, who was charged in July 2023 for a chain of murders.

Kierny previously rejected Davis’ bid to have Jones put up $112,500 to obtain Davis’ $750,000 bail bond, saying she couldn’t determine if Jones wasn’t serving as a “middleman” on behalf of another unnamed person.

Tuesday’s ruling also included a postponement of Davis’ trial, originally scheduled for November 4, now pushed to March 17.