Book that Tupac Shakur murder suspect wrote is clear for use in the trial, judge rules
The judge said Davis adopted the memoir’s claims and prosecutors can use his police statements to support the case.
- On Tuesday, District Judge Carli Kierny ruled that the 2019 memoir Compton Street Legend is admissible evidence in the murder trial of Duane 'Keffe D' Davis, accused of organizing the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas.
- The case remained cold for years until Davis began making public statements, prompting authorities to arrest him in September 2023 after the memoir revived their investigation into Shakur's fatal shooting near the Las Vegas Strip.
- Defense attorney Michael Sanft sought to suppress the memoir, arguing the book was fictionalized for profit, but Judge Kierny rejected his request, determining that Davis adopted the contents as his own regardless of ghostwriter involvement.
- Marc DiGiacomo, chief deputy district attorney in Clark County, argued the state has the right to use the memoir and prior interviews as evidence, noting Davis likely would not have been prosecuted without the book.
- Trial for Davis is scheduled to begin Aug. 10, with the memoir claiming he 'tossed' a gun into the Cadillac used during the attack that killed Shakur and injured Marion 'Suge' Knight, Death Row Records founder.
29 Articles
29 Articles
Judge Deals Blow to Suspect in Tupac Murder Case
Duane Davis, the man accused of orchestrating rap superstar Tupac Shakur’s murder, attended a motions hearing today. Davis’ defense attorney Michael Sanft filed three motions, including a request to dismiss evidence from recorded interviews made by Davis as well as a 2019 book written by the defendant. Ultimately, Judge Carli Kierny denied the defense’s motion to suppress evidence in the high-profile murder case. (6/30/26)
Associated Press News
Book that Tupac Shakur murder suspect wrote is clear for use in the trial, judge rules
A judge has ruled that a book co-written by Duane Davis, who prosecutors allege ordered the 1996 killing of rap icon Tupac Shakur, will be used in trial.
Las Vegas Review-Journal
The spokesman-ReviewJudge rules memoir by defendant in Tupac killing case is admissible
Duane “Keffe D” Davis is accused in connection with the fatal shooting of Shakur near the Strip in 1996. His trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 10.
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