Judge rules memoir by defendant in Tupac killing case is admissible

Noble Brigham, Las Vegas Review-Journal on Jun 30, 2026

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LAS VEGAS — A judge ruled Tuesday that a memoir by the man accused of organizing the killing of iconic rapper Tupac Shakur is admissible evidence.

Authorities have accused Duane “Keffe D” Davis, 63, in connection with the fatal shooting of Shakur near the Strip in 1996. His trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 10.

A memoir called "Compton Street Legend" purports to be written by Davis with a co-author. The book says Davis “tossed” a gun into the backseat of the Cadillac in which he was riding at the time. That weapon was used by a man in the back seat for the shooting, according to the memoir.

Defense attorney Michael Sanft sought to suppress the book and statements Davis made to police. Prosecutors asked District Judge Carli Kierny to reject that request.

“A defendant cannot market his confession and then demand that the courthouse treat it as confidential,” prosecutors wrote in a filing.

Sanft argued that statements in the book could not be directly attributed to Davis because of the involvement of a ghostwriter.

Davis is accused of organizing the fatal shooting as part of a feud between the South Side Crips and the Mob Piru gang, which was tied to the Bloods, and as retaliation for a fight involving Davis’ nephew Orlando Anderson, Shakur and Death Row Records CEO Marion “Suge” Knight, who was injured in the shooting.

Prosecutors have said Davis was a shot caller in the Crips and that the Mob Piru gang was associated with Death Row Records.

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