LAS VEGAS (AP) — The legal team representing Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the individual accused of murdering rap legend Tupac Shakur in 1996, is seeking to suppress evidence obtained during what they describe as an “unlawful nighttime search.” Davis’s attorneys, Robert Draskovich and William Brown, filed this motion this week as part of the ongoing legal proceedings against their client, who stands charged with the drive-by shooting of the iconic musician on the Las Vegas Strip.
In their motion, the defense argues that a judge permitted the nighttime execution of a search warrant based on a distorted portrayal of Davis as a dangerous drug dealer, which they contend is inaccurate. The attorneys assert that nighttime searches should only occur under exceptional circumstances, typically when there is a risk that evidence could be destroyed if law enforcement waits until morning. They highlight that, contrary to the judge's assumptions, Davis, a former gang leader from Southern California, has been out of the narcotics trade since 2008 and has transitioned to a career conducting inspections for oil refineries.
The defense describes Davis as a 60-year-old retired cancer survivor who resided with his wife in Henderson, Nevada, for nine years at the time of the search. They emphasize that the court was not informed about these relevant personal details, leading to what they characterize as a “clearly erroneous factual determination” that justified the nighttime warrant.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, which executed the search and seized Davis’s electronic devices, purported marijuana, and numerous photographs, declined to make comments regarding the case, citing the ongoing litigation. However, at the time of the search, police maintained that performing the operation at night was essential for surrounding and securing the residence. They also noted that the cover of darkness would minimize exposure for surrounding residents in case Davis barricaded himself inside.
Davis was arrested in September 2023 and has pleaded not guilty to the charges of first-degree murder. His legal team claims that his arrest is rooted in misleading public statements he made, in which he claimed to have been present in the white Cadillac from which Tupac was shot. They argue that Davis has never provided corroborative details to substantiate this claim and highlight that he has benefited from sharing his story in various media formats, including documentaries and his 2019 book.
Additionally, Davis sought to contest his murder charges in the Nevada Supreme Court; however, his petition was denied in November. The defense narrative suggests that Davis may have fabricated his involvement in Tupac's murder for personal gain, drawing parallels to how the murder has been sensationalized and mythologized within the entertainment industry, likening it to an “entertainment world’s JFK assassination.”
The legal proceedings surrounding Davis and the iconic murder case of Tupac Shakur continue to unfold, with critical implications for both the legacy of the music icon and the criminal justice narrative that has emerged over nearly three decades.
