Suspect in Tupac killing hires private attorney

Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the reputed gang member charged with murder in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur, has hired a private attorney to represent him.

Davis, 60, was previously represented by two attorneys from the Clark County special public defender’s office. He filed paperwork Thursday afternoon indicating he will instead be represented by Henderson-based attorney Carol Arnold, court records show.

In a Friday afternoon email, Arnold said the case will be “one of the most historic trials of the century.”

Davis, an alleged member of the South Side Crips, has been accused of being the “on-ground, on-sight commander” responsible for orchestrating the drive-by shooting that fatally injured Shakur and wounded Death Row Records CEO Marion “Suge” Knight.

Prosecutors have claimed that Davis confessed to his involvement in the killing in his 2019 co-written book, “Compton Street Legend,” and in recent interviews that have been posted to YouTube.

“The law states the accused cannot be convicted solely on the basis of his confession,” Arnold said Friday. “The State must produce evidence that corroborates the confession and that evidence must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Moreover, the public has been well aware of a myriad of reasons why an accused will confess to a crime.”

Davis has been held at the Clark County Detention Center since he was indicted in September on a charge of murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang.

Investigators have claimed that the shooting was part of an ongoing feud between the South Side Crips and the Bloods-associated Mob Piru gang, and was carried out to exact revenge on Shakur and Knight for a fight at the MGM Grand involving Shakur and Davis’ nephew, Orlando Anderson.

A Las Vegas judge set bail at $750,000 for Davis earlier this month. Following the hearing, special public defenders Robert Arroyo and Charles Cano said they expected Davis will be able to post the bail amount, but that they were unsure when that would occur.

Arnold said Friday that he expects Davis to be “bailed out shortly.”

“We look forward to Mr. Davis being found not guilty at the conclusion of his trial,” Arnold said in the emailed statement.

Davis’ trial is currently set for June, although both the defense and prosecutors have said the trial date could be delayed as both sides review the case’s extensive evidence.

Contact Katelyn Newberg at knewberg@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0240.