Devendra Kumar
Prosecutors have voiced concerns that witnesses may be in danger due to a recorded jail phone call between Duane “Keffe D” Davis, a former gang leader charged with orchestrating the murder of hip-hop star Tupac Shakur, and his son. In the call, the son mentioned a “green light” order had been given, which prosecutors claim is a euphemism for authorization to kill. The FBI has provided resources to at least one witness to change their residence due to fears over their safety.
The October 9th phone call is seen as evidence of “credible threats to witnesses” that demonstrate Davis’s consciousness of guilt and danger to the community. Davis is accused of orchestrating the September 1996 drive-by shooting that killed Shakur and wounded rap music mogul Marion “Suge” Knight. Prosecutors argue that Davis was the “shot-caller” in the shooting and that he has given multiple confessions over the years, including in police interviews, a memoir, and the media.
Davis’s lawyers, Robert Arroyo and Charles Cano, have reviewed the phone call and deny that Davis instructed anyone to harm anyone or threaten anyone associated with the case. They argue that Davis poses no danger to the community, would not flee to avoid trial, and is not receiving proper medical attention in jail for his colon cancer diagnosis, which they claim is in remission.
The court filing is urging Judge Carli Kierny to keep Davis behind bars until trial, citing concerns over witness safety and the severity of the charges against Davis. Davis has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center. If convicted, Davis could spend the rest of his life in prison.