In a stunning development in one of hip-hop’s most enduring mysteries, Duane Keith “Keffe D” Davis, a former Southern California street gang leader, has pleaded not guilty to the 1996 murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas. This plea comes amid recent revelations by Davis about his role in orchestrating the infamous drive-by shooting.

Davis, now 60, is the sole surviving individual from the vehicle involved in the fatal shooting and the first to be charged in this high-profile case. Shackled in court, he declared his innocence to Clark County District Court Judge Tierra Jones. Prosecutors, led by Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson, have ruled out seeking the death penalty, implying a life sentence if Davis is convicted. Defence attorneys Robert Arroyo and Charles Cano are representing Davis following his unsuccessful attempt to hire private attorney Ross Goodman.

Goodman has publicly challenged the prosecution’s case, citing a lack of crucial evidence and witnesses. Despite this, Wolfson remains confident, emphasizing the jury’s role in evaluating the police investigation’s findings. The indictment centers on Davis’ alleged involvement in providing the weapon used in the fatal shooting of Shakur and injuring music mogul Marion “Suge” Knight.

The case’s roots trace back to an East Coast-West Coast rivalry in the “gangsta rap” genre, with the shooting believed to be a retaliation for an earlier altercation involving Shakur and Davis’ nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson. In his 2019 memoir, Davis admitted to acquiring a .40-caliber handgun and giving it to Anderson, although he did not explicitly identify Anderson as the shooter. Anderson, who denied any involvement in Shakur’s murder, was killed in 1998 in Compton.

This case reopens a pivotal chapter in music history, spotlighting Tupac Shakur’s immense influence and the violent backdrop of 1990s rap feuds. As Davis awaits his trial, the world watches, hoping for closure in the tragic saga that claimed the life of a genre-defining artist.