琉璃神社

Skip to content

Police bodycam video shows arrest of Tupac killer suspect

Davis had been a long-known suspect in the case, and publicly admitted his role in the killing
web1_20231006121040-6520386ef32a85fb73c60ae0jpeg
This Friday, Sept 29, 2023, photo provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department shows Duane Keith Davis following his arrest outside his home in Henderson, Nev. Davis, known as 鈥淜effe D,鈥 was indicted on a murder charge in the Sept. 7, 1996, killing of rap music icon Tupac Shakur. After 27 years, Davis became the first person arrested in one of hip-hop鈥檚 most enduring mysteries. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via AP)

The man charged with murder in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur had little to say when he was arrested near his home outside Las Vegas. But Duane 鈥淜effe D鈥 Davis knew the gravity of it, according to police body camera footage released Friday.

鈥淪o what they got you for, man?鈥 an officer out of the frame later asks Davis, 60, while they鈥檙e sitting in a police car parked outside the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department鈥檚 headquarters.

鈥淏iggest case in Las Vegas history,鈥 Davis, who is handcuffed, replied and recounted the date that Shakur was gunned down 鈥 鈥淪eptember 7th, 1996.鈥

READ MORE:

Police and prosecutors allege Davis was the mastermind behind the drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas Strip. Shakur was shot multiple times and died a week later. He was 25.

鈥淚 ain鈥檛 worried about 鈥 I ain鈥檛 did (expletive),鈥 Davis told the officer as his voice trails off.

The four videos released Friday, totaling more than an hour of footage, show Davis arrested on Sept. 29 while on a walk in his otherwise quiet neighborhood. The videos also show police driving Davis to their headquarters and placing him in an interview room 鈥 and, later, the short drive to the county jail, where he鈥檚 being held on bond.

Davis had been a long-known suspect in the case, and publicly admitted his role in the killing in interviews ahead of his 2019 tell-all memoir, 鈥淐ompton Street Legend.鈥 In mid-July, police raided Davis鈥 home, renewing interest in hip-hop鈥檚 most enduring mystery.

The self-described gangster hasn鈥檛 yet entered a plea in the case, and he denied a request from The Associated Press for an interview from the jail. His longtime lawyer in Los Angeles, Edi Faal, told AP he has no comment on Davis鈥 behalf.

According to the videos, officers approached Davis at dawn, calling out to him from across the street.

鈥淗ey, Keffe, Metro Police,鈥 an officer said. 鈥淐ome over here.鈥

Davis, holding a water bottle, cooperated as he was patted down and handcuffed next to an unmarked police vehicle. Much of the conversation with police initially focused on Davis鈥 request for water.

But later, Davis told an officer that he had moved to Las Vegas in January because his wife was working to open up Sprouts grocery stores in the area. The audio is redacted when the officer asks Davis what he has been doing since the move.

In the footage, Davis recalled the July 17 raid on his home and peeking over a gate at the same time as a SWAT officer 鈥 and said his arrest Friday was much more low-key.

As they drove on the freeway en route to police headquarters, Davis does not appear in the video but asks the officer if he was followed the previous night. The officer says no.

鈥淪o why you all didn鈥檛 bring the media?鈥 Davis said.

The officer asked why police would bring the media, and Davis replied 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what you all do.鈥

In an indictment unsealed last Friday in Clark County District Court, Davis is accused of orchestrating the killing of Shakur and providing his nephew, Orlando 鈥淏aby Lane鈥 Anderson, with the gun to do it. Anderson, who denied involvement in Shakur鈥檚 killing, died in 1998.

Davis鈥 first court appearance this week was cut short when he asked the judge for a postponement while he retains counsel in Las Vegas. He鈥檚 due in court again Oct. 19.

Antczak reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writer Felicia Fonseca in Flagstaff, Arizona, contributed.

Rio Yamat And John Antczak, The Associated Press





(or

琉璃神社

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }
Pop-up banner image