Clark District Court Judge Carli Kierny says she has more questions than answers after Duane “Keefe D” Davis attempted to provide additional financial records regarding his attempt to pay off his $750,000 bail. “I have a sense that things are trying to be covered up,” she said at a hearing in the case regarding the murder of Tupac Shakur on Tuesday.
Kierny says she recieved two identical letters from an entertainment company that supposedly supplied Wack 100 with the money. She noted that one of the signed names doesn’t match anyone with ties to the company. Additionally, the second one had a misspelled name and return address for a doctor’s office.
Duane “Keefe D” Davis, 60, walks out after a court appearance in Las. Vegas on October 19, 2023, for his arraignment on murder charges in the death of rapper Tupac Shakur. Shakur, 25, died on September 7, 1996, six days after being shot while in a car near the Las Vegas Strip. (Photo by John Locher / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JOHN LOCHER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The latest drama surrounding Keefe’s attempt at getting out on bail comes after Kierny previously rejected his attempt to get help from Wack 100. She felt Wack was only trying to get an interview out of Keefe. “I don’t really see where the actual $112,500 came from with what’s been provided,” she said back in June. “I also don’t find the defense has met the burden … to show that the bail is not connected to Mr. Davis ultimately talking about Mr. Shakur’s murder and any evidence to the contrary is not credible.”
Davis has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the case. His trial will begin on March 17. Be on the lookout for further updates on Duane “Keefe D” Davis and the trial for the killing of 2Pac on HotNewHipHop.
Mike Dorsey, the filmmaker who covered Keefe D for the documentary, Murder Rap, has released audio of the 2Pac murder suspect confessing back in 2008. In the clip, Keefe recalls his alleged difficulty getting a $1 million payment from Diddy in exchange for carrying out the hit, as caught by AllHipHop. At first, he claims he told Eric “Von Zip” Martin to collect the money in the days following the shooting but this was unsuccessful.
“What’s up with the cash?” Keefe D recalled asking Martin four to six weeks later. “[Zip said], ‘[Diddy] ain’t give it to me yet.’ We need money, motherf*cker. They took our guns, all that sh*t. We need some money. They must got millions.”
Duane “Keefe D” Davis, 60, arrives in a Las Vegas court on October 19, 2023, for his arraignment on murder charges in the death of rapper Tupac Shakur. Shakur, 25, died on September 7, 1996, six days after being shot while in a car near the Las Vegas Strip. (Photo by John Locher / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JOHN LOCHER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Years later, Keefe’s associate, Wynn Prince, allegedly ran into Diddy during a party at Snoop Dogg’s house in Los Angeles. He says the two got to talking and Prince brought up Keefe never getting paid. Diddy gave him a number to call and went on his way. “If I would’ve seen his ass, ‘Gimme the jewelry and everything,’ you know?” Keefe said. “Stupid motherf*cker. I said, ‘You let him give you a number?’ That was so stupid! Why you didn’t get the jewelry?” When he called, there was no response. “[Diddy] ain’t answer,” Keefe claimed. “That man got about 50 phones. He can throw that sh*t away. He gets phones easy.”
Keefe D’s 2008 Police Interview Resurfaces
Once again, Keefe says he saw Diddy at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, but there were too many police around to do anything. “When he got that Walk of Fame motherf*cker, I was right there!” Keefe D said. “But there was too many [police] around there.” Diddy has vehemently denied any role in the killing of 2Pac for years and has never faced any criminal charges, indictments, or convictions with regard to the incident. Police arrested Keefe for the crime back in 2023, 25 years after the legendary rapper’s death. Be on the lookout for further updates on Keefe D and 2Pac’s murder trial on HotNewHipHop.
Keefe D is the first and only man to be charged with Tupac’s murder. The man born Duane Davis was charged in 2023, and is awaiting a trial set for November 2024. Keefe D’s situation is not ideal, but he has drawn lots of attention for his shocking claims. According to the gangster, Diddy was the one who ordered the hit on Tupac’s life in 1996. Keefe D went on to assert that Diddy wanted Tupac and Death Row co-founder Suge Knight gone so badly that he paid Keefe $1 million to “handle the problem.” This allegation has not been taken lightly by Tupac’s family.
Tupac’s family is taking steps to look into Keefe D’s allegations. According to TMZ, the family has taken steps to ensure that they get to the bottom of what really happened three decades ago. The family has hired attorneys a team of investigators, as well as attorneys Alex Spiro and Christopher Clore, to see if there’s truth to Diddy’s involvement. Sources close to the family claim the mogul will be the sole focus of the investigation. They also told TMZ that Tupac Shakur’s family believe they may be truth to what Keefe D has been claiming.
Diddy has never charged in connection to the Tupac shooting. He has, however, been hounded by many conspiracy theories over the years. A 2008 piece by The Los Angeles Times claimed he had knowledge of the Tupac shooting, but it was quickly retracted. The retraction didn’t stop Diddy from denying these allegations outright. “This story is beyond ridiculous and completely false,” he asserted. “Neither Biggie nor I had any knowledge of any attack before, during or after it happened. It is a complete lie to suggest that there was any involvement by Biggie or myself.”
Obviously, Diddy’s reputation is not as sterling as it once was. The Bad Boy founder has been caught lying about multiple transgressions, including the abuse of his ex-girlfriend Cassie. There’s also been multiple victims that have come forward with stories about Diddy’s illegal antics during the ’90s. One such, story, from ex-Vibe editor, claimed Diddy threatened to have her killed if she didn’t give him an advance copy of a cover story. If Diddy did in fact have anything to do with Tupac’s death, then the Shakur family will find out.
This week, it was revealed that West Coast gangster Keefe D had been working as an undercover informant for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to link Bad Boy Entertainment CEO, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, to the murder of Tupac Shakur. The news has sent shockwaves through the hip-hop community and the ongoing investigation into one of the most infamous cases in music history.
In a heated courtroom outburst, Keefe D lashed out, claiming his confessions were supposed to remain confidential. The Sun reports that Keefe directed his tirade towards Chief Deputy District Attorneys Marc DiGiacomo and Binu Palal. He expressed frustration over evidence from his own confessions to LAPD officers being referenced in court documents.
During the hearing, Keefe, referred to as “The Godfather of Compton” by his lawyer, Carl Arnold, targeted retired LAPD task force officer Greg Kading. Kading had been instrumental in obtaining Keefe’s taped confession, which originally protected him from prosecution under a “proffer deal.” This two-and-a-half-hour tape has been submitted as evidence by prosecutors.
Keefe’s frustration peaked when DiGiacomo mentioned a “box” of substantial evidence from the LAPD’s 2008 Biggie Smalls gang task force investigation, now being reviewed for potential use in Keefe’s prosecution. This prompted Keefe to address Judge Carli Kierny directly, bypassing his lawyer’s mediation.
Keefe accused Kading of keeping the evidence in his attic for 15 years, conducting TV interviews, and breaking the proffer agreement. He alleged the evidence was tainted and should be excluded, saying, “Them boxes should not be allowed…it is tainted evidence. The man broke a proffer agreement.”
Keefe also claimed that the prosecution had targeted his family, stating, “They crashed my family in this. They did my daughter first, then my son, and they just did my wife in the last papers.”
Judge Kierny, maintaining composure, explained that it was still uncertain which aspects of Kading’s evidence would be used by the state and that no motion had been filed to exclude the evidence. She concluded the session without rendering a decision, stating, “There are a couple of things I need to look at. I will let you guys know in the next day or two.”
Keefe’s rant ended the 45-minute court session on a tense note, leaving the future of the case and his potential early release hanging in the air.
Duane “Keefe D” Davis has been behind bars for several months now for his alleged role in 2Pac’s murder. Currently, he’s trying to get released so he can await his trial at home, but prosecutors are pushing back. Recently, they filed an opposition to his motion for bail, citing a conversation he allegedly had with authorities back in 2009.
During the conversation, Keefe D reportedly told detectives that Diddy allegedly once offered him $1 million to kill the icon. He also alleged that after 2Pac’s death, he reached out to Diddy to try to get the money. He claims this never worked out for him. Prosecutors argue that this proves Keefe D would be willing to consider accepting money in exchange for murder. Due to this, they say it would be better for everyone if he stayed in prison.
Law Enforcement Sources Didn’t Buy Keefe D’s Claims
Duane “Keefe D” Davis, 60, appears in a Las Vegas court on October 19, 2023 for his arraignment on murder charges in the death of rapper Tupac Shakur. Shakur, 25, died on September 7, 1996, six days after being shot while in a car near the Las Vegas Strip. (Photo by John Locher / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JOHN LOCHER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Recently, however, law enforcement sources spoke with TMZ to confirm that Diddy was never a suspect in 2Pac’s murder investigation. This seems to suggest that they believed Keefe D’s claims were unfounded. This appears to be good news for Diddy. Keefe D, on the other hand, is still waiting on a judge’s ruling on his request for a bond.
What do you think of law enforcement sources telling TMZ that Diddy was never a suspect in 2Pac’s murder investigation, suggesting they didn’t believe Keefe D‘s claims? Are you surprised or not? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
The world of Diddy couldn’t be any more shakey as lawsuits detailing sexual abuse mount against him. His legal troubles continue, even outside of those that are explicitly detailing alleged crimes that he’s committed. In another turn of events, it was recently revealed that Diddy’s name appears 77 times in Keefe D’s court documents, according to The Sun. What’s more, Keefe D was allegedly a confidential informant for the police who reportedly tried to implicate Diddy in an undercover operation while simultaneously working with detectives from the LAPD.
Keefe D: The Alleged Informant With A Hidden Agenda
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Duane Davis, also known as Keefe D, was not just an accused murderer; he was also an alleged police informant. Court filings by Las Vegas prosecutors, obtained by The Sun, claim that Keefe D began cooperating with law enforcement after they caught him trafficking drugs. He reportedly provided information on Tupac’s murder, believing he would be immune from prosecution. His alleged cooperation included a recorded account of the events leading to Tupac’s death, where he claimed Diddy had offered him a million dollars to kill the rapper.
Diddy’s Alleged Involvement
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 21: Sean “Diddy” Combs speaks during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference National Town Hall on September 21, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Congressional Black Caucus Foundation)
The court documents further implicate Diddy by recounting another interview with Keefe D. According to the filings, Diddy inquired whether the South Side Crips were responsible for Tupac’s death, to which Keefe D proudly confirmed. This exchange is a critical piece of evidence suggesting Diddy’s knowledge and possible involvement in the conspiracy to murder Tupac. Despite these allegations, Diddy has consistently denied any involvement in Tupac’s death.
Prosecutors allege that “Defendant [Keefe] has asserted publicly that he only told on himself and wasn’t trying to provide evidence against anyone else in his conversations with police… However, this statement belies this claim, as he suggested that Sean Combs paid Eric Von Martin a million dollars for the killings.”
According to the documents, prosecutors claim that three months after Keefe D’s recorded confession, he became an active confidential informant for a task force investigating Biggie Smalls’ murder. Keefe D and the task force officers traveled to New York to corroborate the conspiracy involving Diddy. During this undercover operation, Keefe D interacted with Eric “Zip” Martin, an alleged accomplice reportedly involved in the conspiracy with Diddy. “Task Force Detectives believed they had jurisdiction to investigate a Nevada homicide because Defendant asserted that the conspiracy to commit the murder began in California between Defendant, Eric ‘Zip’ Martin, and Sean Combs,” the documents read. The court papers reveal that Keefe D and Zip had a social interaction where Zip redirected Keefe D to his nephew for drug activities, indicating his withdrawal from the business.
Keefe D’s Legal Troubles & Bail Denial
Keefe D’s legal battle continues as he faces trial for Tupac’s murder in November. Despite securing a $750,000 bond, a judge denied his release due to concerns about the source of the funds. Prosecutors have presented extensive evidence against Keefe D, including statements he made in interviews and books, which place him in Las Vegas on the night of the murder. Investigators also found a hotel reservation under Keefe D’s wife’s name, further placing him at the crime scene.
During a heated bail bond hearing on Tuesday, Duane “Keefe D” Davis lashed out at prosecutors and a former LAPD detective, expressing his frustration over his legal situation. Keefe D, who hoped to pursue reality TV and movie projects upon his release, appeared visibly agitated as Judge Carli Kierny deliberated his bail. His lawyer, Carl Arnold, argued for his release, asserting Keefe D’s right to profit from his reputation, given his lack of conviction for Tupac Shakur’s murder. However, prosecutors contended that Keefe’s bail money was deceitfully sourced from a friend, posing a danger to the community.
Court Outburst
Keefe’s outburst was prompted by allegations that he and rap entertainer Cash “Wack 100” Jones misled the court regarding the bail bond’s origins. Prosecutors played recorded jail phone calls revealing discussions about a potential TV deal, further complicating Keefe’s defense. Keefe vehemently denied any deal with Jones for TV projects, and Jones echoed this denial in court.
Keefe’s anger escalated when prosecutors referenced his taped confession to LAPD, where he admitted involvement in Tupac’s 1996 murder. This confession, part of a proffer deal originally protecting him from prosecution, has now become a crucial piece of evidence. Retired LAPD officer Greg Kading, central to Keefe’s confession, was a particular target of Keefe’s ire. Keefe accused Kading of mishandling evidence and breaking the law by conducting TV interviews and storing evidence improperly.
Addressing Judge Kierny directly, Keefe argued against the use of Kading’s evidence, calling it tainted and unlawful. Despite Kierny’s attempts to maintain order, Keefe continued his tirade, accusing prosecutors of unfairly involving his family in the case. Kierny indicated she needed more time to review the evidence before making a decision on Keefe’s bail.
Keefe’s outburst comes in the wake of a 179-page court motion by prosecutors urging for his continued detention, citing his danger to the community and a history of violent behavior. This motion also details Keefe’s role as a confidential informant, where he attempted to implicate Sean “Diddy” Combs in Tupac’s murder. Despite these allegations, Diddy has consistently denied any involvement in the killing. Keefe faces life imprisonment if convicted of Tupac’s murder, with the trial slated for later this year.
The recent court developments linking Diddy to Tupac’s murder come amid a series of other legal issues for the music mogul. Diddy has faced multiple lawsuits accusing him of sex trafficking and sexual assault, all of which he has denied. Earlier this year, his properties were raided by Homeland Security officials as part of a federal sex trafficking investigation. The convergence of these legal battles raises significant questions about Diddy’s future and the potential impact on his career and legacy.
Keefe D made headlines in 2023, when he was arrested in relation to the murder of Tupac Shakur. The gangster was the first person to ever be charged in relation to the murder. He’s still awaiting trial, but a simple court appearance on Tuesday, July 23 took an unexpectedly dramatic turn. Keefe D accused the prosecution of using tainted evidence, and proceeded to yell at them while in court. The gangster waved his finger at both prosecutors Binu Palal and Marc DiGiacomo, and asserted that he was innocent.
Keefe D, born Duane Davis, has repeatedly objected to the evidence that links him to Tupac’s murder. He denied being in Las Vegas the night the rapper was shot, and claimed that Detective Greg Kading tainted evidence to make him look like the guilty party. “Greg Kading had them boxes at his house for 15 years in his attic doing all kinds of TV interviews.” Keefe D asserted. “Them boxes should not be allowed. Them boxes should be allowed. It’s tainted evidence, everything. The man, he broke a proffer agreement and he broke the law, all kinds of stuff.”
Keefe D Voiced Opposition To Specific Pieces Of Evidence
Judge Carli Kierny assured Keefe D that no evidence from the aforementioned boxes would be used. This proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back. The gangster lost his temper, and alleged that the prosecution had already used tainted evidence against him. “They just used something in them boxes,” Keefe D yelled. “They just used something in them boxes! From 1996. They know that they did it.” He proceeded to point at Palal and DiGiacomo and question their motives as prosecutors. He also criticized them for being corrupt. “They’re not only ugly on the outside, but they’re ugly on the inside,” Keefe D asserted. “These two dudes right here.”
Judge Kierney previously denied Davis’s to make bail. The gangster’s lawyer, Carl Arnold, filed for a reconsideration, but he currently remains behind bars. Kierney’s reason for denying bail stemmed from her uncertainty as to whether Keefe D was profiting from his association with Tupac’s death. Music exec Wack 100 offered to pay the gangster’s bail, but Kierney rejected it on the grounds that she was dubious of where the money came from. “I also don’t find the defense has met the burden,” she explained. “To show that the bail is not connected to Mr. Davis ultimately talking about Mr. Shakur’s murder. Any evidence to contrary is not credible.”
Keefe D allegedly served as a police informant for years after being caught “trafficking a large amount of drugs,” according to new court documents cited by The Jasmine Brand. In doing so, he allegedly attempted to claim Diddy offered him $1 million in exchange for Tupac’s murder. He says the money was paid out to Eric “Zip” Martin.
In the documents, the prosecution claims Keefe flew out the New York City to discuss the conspiracy to kill the legendary rapper. At the time, he met with Zip while acting in an “undercover capacity.” “Mr. Martin [Zip] greeted Defendant excitedly and they had a social conversation,” the court papers claim. “Mr. Martin indicated he was out of the business but directed him to conduct his drug activities with the nephew. Thereafter, Defendant and Mr. Martin socialized in Mr. Martin’s restaurant for several hours.”
Keefe D Speaks With An Attorney During Arraignment
Duane “Keefe D” Davis, 60, speaks with attorney Ross Goodman in a Las Vegas court on October 19, 2023 for his arraignment on murder charges in the death of rapper Tupac Shakur. Shakur, 25, died on September 7, 1996, six days after being shot while in a car near the Las Vegas Strip. (Photo by John Locher / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JOHN LOCHER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The update comes as Keefe continues his attempts to get out of jail on bail ahead of his upcoming trial. After Judge Carli Kierny initially blocked his attempts at paying bail, Keefe’s attorney, Carl Arnold filed for a reconsideration. “Judge Kierny does not at this time have the legal authority to prevent Mr. Davis from being paid any proceeds deriving from his story related to his life or any connection he allegedly has with the murder of Mr. Shakur,” Arnold wrote in that motion, according to Las Vegas Review-Journal. Kierny had shot down the move out of concerns regarding where the money came from.
Keefe’s next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, July 23. Be on the lookout for further updates on Keefe D and his trial regarding the death of 2Pac on HotNewHipHop.
Keefe D’s attorney, Carl Arnold, says his client is getting numerous offers from various networks about TV shows based on the case regarding the killing of 2Pac. He addressed the situation while speaking with The U.S. Sun ahead of Keefe’s next bail hearing on Tuesday. Keefe is hoping to get out of jail so he can profit from the situation.
“We get approached with that since the inception of the case ever since I got on board,” Arnold explained to the outlet. “Different news agencies, different TV shows have all come up and said, ‘Hey, when Keefe gets out, we want to follow you. We want to see the preparation of defense.’” From there, Arnold compared himself to Johnnie Cochran, admitting he’d like to be on TV himself. “When I’m dead and gone, we have to preserve this thing. It’s a legacy. It’s a legacy case,” he added. “And so it is like Johnnie Cochran [O.J. Simpson’s lawyer], we could still go watch that old film of him and that if it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” He further argued that a TV deal would help Davis pay his legal fees.
Keefe D Appears In Court For Arraignment In The Killing Of 2Pac
Duane “Keefe D” Davis, 60, arrives in a Las. Vegas court on October 19, 2023, for his arraignment on murder charges in the death of rapper Tupac Shakur. Shakur, 25, died on September 7. 1996, six days after being shot while in a car near the Las Vegas Strip. (Photo by John Locher / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JOHN LOCHER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Judge Carli Kierny previously held off on confirming Keefe’s bail payment in June over concerns about where the money was coming from. Wack 100 offered up a significant portion of it. “Judge Kierny does not at this time have the legal authority to prevent Mr. Davis from being paid any proceeds deriving from his story related to his life or any connection he allegedly has with the murder of Mr. Shakur,” Arnold wrote in a recent motion requesting the decision to be reconsidered according to Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Authorities first arrested Keefe for the 1996 murder back in September of last year. Be on the lookout for further updates on Keefe D and the trial over the killing of 2Pac on HotNewHipHop.
The murder trial of Duane “Keefe D” Davis, accused of orchestrating the 1996 killing of rap legend Tupac Shakur, has taken shocking turn with the emergence of new evidence placing him in Las Vegas on the night of the murder.
Keefe D, a self-proclaimed Compton Crip ganglord, has been in custody since September, held on $750,000 bail. Despite securing the bond, a Las Vegas judge denied his release in June, citing the severity of the charges. The recent developments, reported by The Sun, further complicate his case.
Prosecutors have uncovered decades-old evidence indicating that a room at the then-Monte Carlo Resort (now Park MGM) was booked under the name of Keefe D’s wife, Paula Clemons, on September 7, 1996—the night Tupac was killed in a drive-by shooting. Additionally, a room at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino was reserved under the name of Keefe D’s nephew, Orlando Anderson, who is suspected of firing the fatal shots.
According to court documents obtained by The U.S. Sun, Las Vegas Metro Police detectives have been meticulously combing through hotel records for reservations made under the names of known gang members. Clemons’ reservations, however, initially did not raise suspicion as she was not a known Southside Crip.
Keefe D’s defense team had previously argued for the dismissal of charges, claiming there was no evidence placing him in Las Vegas on the night of Tupac’s murder. This new discovery directly challenges that assertion and could be pivotal in the trial.
A legal insider revealed that prosecutors are now scouring through any paperwork or surveillance footage from the Monte Carlo Hotel to establish a more concrete link. The source mentioned that investigators have reexamined the original homicide files and conducted fresh interviews with every person named in those files. These efforts have led to new leads and the identification of potential witnesses who had never previously come forward.
“Conversations are ongoing with several people who have connections to Keefe and his gang. What emerges from that remains secret at the moment,” the insider added, suggesting that more revelations could come to light as the investigation continues.
