Photo Credit: Ryan Hafey
Court-appointed attorneys for the man accused of murdering Tupac Shakur are seeking house arrest rather than jail ahead of the trial.
Lawyers for Duane “Keefe D” Davis argue that their client is in poor health and poses no danger to the community, nor will he flee to avoid trial. They are seeking bail of not more than $100,000 for their client.
The former gang leader has pled not guilty to the murder charge, but has remained jailed since he was arrested last year on September 29. He is the only person who has been charged in connection with the killing that also wounded rap mogul Marion ‘Suge’ Knight.
Police arrested Keefe D in connection with the 1996 killing of Tupac, though he isn’t the accused gunman who pulled the trigger. Instead, prosecutors insist that Keefe D was the group’s ringleader and ordered the slaying. According to Nevada law, you can be charged with crimes including murder if you help someone commit the crime.
“Duane Davis was the shot caller for this group of individuals that committed this crime,” Las Vegas police homicide Lt. Jason Johansson said at the time of Davis’ arrest. “He orchestrated the plan that was carried out.” Davis was arrested while on a walk outside of his home.
David himself has admitted in interviews and his tell-all memoir ‘Compton Street Legend’ that he provided the gun used in the drive-by shooting. In that memoir, Davis describes being in the front passenger seat of the vehicle, slipping a gun into the backseat.
He does not say who fired the shots, but implicates his nephew Orlando ‘Baby Lane’ Anderson, saying he was one of the men in the backseat of the car. Anderson had been involved in a fight at a casino with Tupac shortly before the shooting occurred.
Meanwhile, prosecutors allege that telephone recordings and a list of names provided to Davis’ family members show there is significant risk of harm if Davis is released. The prosecutors also bring attention to Davis’ words in that memoir, providing evidence that he orchestrated the shooting.
