LAS VEGAS — Prosecutors are urging a Nevada judge to keep Duane Keffe D Davis, a former Los Angeles-area gang leader charged with orchestrating the killing of hip-hop music icon Tupac Shakur, behind bars until trial. In a court filing submitted on Thursday, prosecutors Marc DiGiacomo and Binu Palal argue that witnesses may be at risk in the case, citing a recorded jail telephone call in which Davis’ son mentioned a green light order.
In (Davis’) world, a ‘green light’ is an authorization to kill, the prosecutors stated in the court filing. They expressed concern about the safety of witnesses and highlighted the fact that the federal government has provided resources to one witness to facilitate a change in residence.
The court filing does not explicitly mention Davis instructing anyone to harm anyone or physical harm to anyone associated with the case. However, DiGiacomo and Palal contend that the recorded jail call demonstrates credible threats to witnesses and reveals both consciousness of guilt and a danger to the community.
Davis, 60, pleaded not guilty in November to a murder charge related to the shooting of Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas over 27 years ago. He is being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center where phone calls are recorded. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment.
Prosecutors cite multiple confessions made by Davis over the years as evidence that he orchestrated the drive-by shooting that led to Shakur’s death and the injury of rap music mogul Marion Suge Knight. Davis is the only surviving individual who was present in the vehicle from which the shots were fired.
While Davis claims to have been granted immunity in a 2008 agreement with the FBI and Los Angeles police, his court-appointed attorneys, Robert Arroyo and Charles Cano, argue that his accounts were intended for entertainment purposes and to generate income.
Arroyo and Cano are currently reviewing the prosecution’s allegations and plan to respond in court on Tuesday. They maintain that their client does not pose a danger to the community, poses no flight risk, and requires proper medical attention for his colon cancer diagnosis, which is reportedly in remission.
A hearing is scheduled to address Davis’ request for a $100,000 bail and house arrest until his trial in June. The judge will consider these arguments along with the assertions made by prosecutors regarding the potential risk to witnesses in the case.
As the trial progresses, it remains to be seen how the court will evaluate the evidence and allegations presented by both the prosecution and defense. The gravity of the charges and the historical significance of the case continue to captivate the public’s attention, ensuring that the trial of Duane Keffe D Davis will be closely watched by many.
