Ex-Gang Leader Duane Keith Davis Pleads Not Guilty to 1996 Tupac Shakur Murder, Prosecutors Not Seeking Death Penalty

Davis, last living suspect in Tupac's murder, implicates himself in 2019 memoir; lack of physical evidence and credible witnesses may undermine the case.

Davis pleaded not guilty to the murder of Tupac Shakur; the charge was prompted by his own descriptions about orchestrating the deadly drive-by shooting in his 2019 memoir.
The case against Davis lacks key evidence and credible witnesses, leading to prosecutors deciding not to seek the death penalty. If Davis is convicted, he faces life imprisonment.
Davis was arrested outside a home in suburban Henderson, where police had previously served a search warrant in relation to the case, which has brought back attention to one of hip-hop music's most enduring mysteries.
The indictment alleges that Davis provided a firearm to someone in the back seat of a Cadillac, resulting in the gunfire that mortally wounded Shakur and wounded rap mogul Marion “Suge” Knight.
The grand jury was informed that the 1996 shooting was retaliation for a brawl involving Shakur and Davis' nephew, Orlando 'Baby Lane' Anderson, hours earlier at a casino. Davis has stated he obtained and handed a .40-caliber handgun to Anderson, but did not identify him as the shooter.
Davis has confessed his involvement, however, due to a 2009 proffer agreement his confession cannot be used against him. The investigation was reinvigorated in 2018, partially due to Davis' own admissions. A search warrant conducted at Davis' wife's home in July found a copy of Davis’ memoir and several .40-caliber cartridges.