ByTheresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Duane Davis Duane Davis appears in Clark County District Court to plead not guilty at an arraignment at the Regional Justice Center on Nov. 2, 2023 in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
ByTheresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
The man accused of plotting the drive-by shooting that killed iconic rapper Tupac Shakur in 1996 pleaded not guilty to a murder charge on Thursday.
Wearing a dark blue prison uniform, Duane “Keefe D” Davis appeared in court for an arraignment after earlier proceedings were delayed to give him time to retain an attorney. On Thursday, Clark County District Court Judge Tierra Jones assigned county special public defenders Robert Arroyo and Charles Cano to represent him, The Associated Press reported.
When Jones asked Davis to enter his plea, he answered, “Not guilty.”
Prosecutors told Jones that they are not seeking a death penalty sentence in the case. Outside the courtroom, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said he discussed the decision with a panel, “and we determined that this was not the kind of case that should proceed with the seeking of the death penalty.”
“The thinking is that every case is unique, and this is a case where we didn’t think it was appropriate to seek the death penalty,” he said.
Davis faces a murder charge decades after Shakur and Death Row Records co-founder Suge Knight were shot near the Las Vegas Strip. Investigators said the shooting was retaliation for an earlier fight that involved Shakur, Knight and Davis’ nephew, Orlando Anderson.
Shakur died on Sept. 13, 1996, six days after the shooting. He was 25 years old.
Davis earlier said he planned to hire Las Vegas attorney Ross Goodman to represent him, a plan he reiterated Thursday in court. In an email to CNN on Wednesday, Goodman said he was not on the case because Davis was unable to meet the terms of an agreement wit him.
“I support Mr. Davis and I hope to get back on the case,” he said after Davis’ court appearance on Thursday, according to the news network. “There are people trying to get the finances together to get me on the case.”
Davis is expected to appear in court again next week for a status check in the case. Prosecutors expect he will go on trial in 2024.
0 of 17
Remembering Tupac Flavor Flav, standing with rapper Tupac Shakur, greets fans backstage during the 1989 American Music Awards, Los Angeles, California, January 30, 1989. (Photo by Clarence Gatson/Gado/Getty Images) (Clarence Gatson/Gado/Getty Images)
Remembering Tupac Rosie Perez and Tupac Shakur (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Remembering Tupac NEW YORK - JULY 23: Rappers Chuck D of Public Enemy and Tupac Shakur pose for a portrait at Club Amazon on July 23, 1993 in New York, New York. (Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Al Pereira)
Remembering Tupac NEW YORK - JULY 23: Rapper Tupac Shakur performs onstage at Club Amazon on July 23, 1993 in New York, New York. (Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Al Pereira)
Tupac Shakur FILE PHOTO: Rapper Tupac Shakur poses for photos backstage after his performance at the Regal Theater in Chicago, Illinois in March 1994. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images) (Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)
Remembering Tupac NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: American rapper, songwriter, and actor (1971-1996) Tupac Shakur poses for a portrait during the 1994 Source Awards on April 25, 1994 at the Paramount Theatre in New York, New York. (Photo by Bob Berg/Getty Images) (Bob Berg/Getty Images)
Tupac Shakur FILE PHOTO: Rapper Tupac Shakur performs at the Mecca Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in September 1994. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images) (Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)
Remembering Tupac MILWAUKEE - SEPTEMBER 1994: Rapper Tupac Shakur performs at the Mecca Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in September 1994. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)
(Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)
Remembering Tupac Tupac Shakur during Party For Cowboy Noir Thriller "Red Rock West" at Club USA in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Remembering Tupac Tupac Shakur (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Remembering Tupac View of American rapper and actor Tupac Shakur (also known as 2Pac, 1971 - 1996) and actress Jada Pinkett Smith as they pose together at a movie premiere, New York, New York, 1996. (Photo by Gene Shaw/Getty Images) (Gene Shaw/Getty Images)
Remembering Tupac Tupac Shakur and Marion Suge Knight (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic) (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Remembering Tupac Tupac Shakur and James Belushi in a scene from the film 'Criminal Intent', 1997. (Photo by Orion/Getty Images) (Archive Photos/Getty Images)
Remembering Tupac Tupac Shakur in a scene from the film 'Gridlock'd', 1997. (Photo by Gramercy Pictures/Getty Images) (Archive Photos/Getty Images)
Remembering Tupac UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 14: Daily News front page headline Sept. 14, 1996, Tupac Shakur dies of gunshot wounds, RAP REQUIEM (Photo by NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) (New York Daily News Archive/NY Daily News via Getty Images)
