Federal prosecutors have raised concerns about potential threats to witnesses in the case against Duane "Keffe D" Davis, a former Los Angeles-area gang leader charged with orchestrating the killing of hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas over 27 years ago.
The filing, submitted on Thursday, urges Nevada Judge Carli Kierny to keep Davis behind bars until the trial, as per The Independent.
Tupac Murder Suspect Faces Witness Threat Allegations
According to prosecutors Marc DiGiacomo and Binu Palal, they have alleged that a list of witnesses was shared with family members of Davis. Additionally, during a recorded jail call, Davis' son reportedly conveyed that a "green light" order had been given. In Davis' world, the term "green light" is used to indicate permission to engage in acts of violence. Prosecutors have determined that this represents a legitimate threat to witnesses.
The court filing does not explicitly mention Davis instructing harm or physical harm to anyone associated with the case. However, the prosecutors argue that the recorded jail call reveals a consciousness of guilt and suggests that Davis poses a danger to the community. The gravity of the situation prompted federal intervention, with resources provided to at least one witness for relocation due to safety concerns.
Davis, 60, was arrested on September 29 and pleaded not guilty in November to a murder charge related to the 1996 drive-by shooting that killed Tupac Shakur and injured rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight. Currently held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas, Davis is seeking release on a $100,000 bail with house arrest until his trial in June.
A statement from Davis' court-appointed attorneys, Robert Arroyo and Charles Cano, their preliminary examination of the recorded phone call did not uncover any explicit references or threats directed at witnesses. In a forthcoming court appearance on Tuesday, they plan to address the accusations put forth by the prosecution, according to NBC Philadelphia.
Tupac Shakur Killing Case
The defense team has put forth the assertion that Davis does not pose a threat to the community, has no intention of fleeing, and is in need of appropriate medical care due to a recent diagnosis of colon cancer. However, the prosecution has countered these claims by demonstrating Davis' own statements, which suggest that he held a significant role in the fatal shooting. As a result, the prosecution argues that it is justified to keep Davis in custody.
The prosecutors cite multiple "confessions" made by Davis since 2008, including police interviews, a 2019 tell-all memoir, and media statements, where he claimed responsibility for orchestrating the drive-by shooting. Davis, the only surviving occupant of the vehicle from which shots were fired, maintains that he received immunity in a 2008 agreement with the FBI and Los Angeles police while they investigated the Shakur and Christopher Wallace (The Notorious B.I.G.) killings.
In response, Davis' attorneys argue that his accounts were purely for entertainment and financial gain. As the legal proceedings unfold, the court will weigh the validity of the witness threat claims, considering their implications on the trial's integrity and the safety of those involved, Santa Maria Times reported.
