2Pac‘s alleged killer Duane “Keefe D” Davis has formally entered his not guilty plea in a Las Vegas courthouse.
Pitchfork is reporting that Davis’ formal arraignment was held on Thursday (November 2), where he entered his plea while being represented by a public defender.
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This representation by a public defender marks a change in plan from Davis’ original representation, when hotshot Las Vegas attorney Ross Goodman was set to represent him. However, according to the outlet, Davis and Goodman parted ways when they couldn’t reach an agreement on the terms of payment — and now, Davis is claiming that he can’t afford a lawyer.
Davis is now being represented by Robert Arroyo and Charles Cano from the public defender’s office.
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During the brief time that he represented Keefe D, Goodman said that the state’s case was weak and that his client wasn’t a man who was going to run away if given a chance.
“I think Mr. Davis should be released O.R. (on his own recognizance),” he said. “He’s not a flight risk. He’s not a danger to the community. He’s lived in Henderson for 11 years. And he’s not going anywhere.”
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The 2Pac murder trial has had its fair share of issues, especially after nearly 30 years of no movement in the case, but one of the biggest obstacles may be Suge Knight’s refusal to testify about what, exactly, he saw on the night of September 7, 1996.
TMZ spoke with the Death Row Records co-founder over the phone back in October to get his thoughts on the recent developments in ‘Pac’s long-running homicide investigation, which saw Keefe D arrested by Las Vegas police.
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The 60-year-old former gang member has been charged with “murder with the use of a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang,” marking the first time charges have been made in the 27-year-old case.
“Well, surprise, number one,” Suge said while reacting to the news. “Because I don’t think Keefe D would ever get arrested, nor do I want to see him get arrested.
“Let’s get one thing straight, first and foremost: me and Keefe D played on the same Pop Warner football team. And whatever circumstances — if he had an involvement with anything, if he didn’t have an involvement with anything, I wouldn’t wish somebody going to prison on my worst enemy.”
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Knight, who is currently behind bars serving a 28-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter, also claimed that Keefe D’s nephew, Orlando Anderson, was not the shooter, contrary to popular belief.
“There were only two people in the car; ‘Pac’s not gonna tell the story, I ain’t gonna tell the story,” said the former record executive, who was sat next to 2Pac and was also wounded during the fatal drive-by shooting.
“But I can tell you this: I never had nothing bad to say about Orlando because […] he wasn’t the shooter [..] It wasn’t Anderson, so that’s all I got to say about that part.”
Keefe is the only suspect who is still alive. He is alleged to have orchestrated the hit as “retribution” against 2Pac, who alongside his entourage had attacked Anderson in the lobby of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas the night of September 7, 1996.
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Hours later, a car pulled up alongside ‘Pac and Suge Knight’s BMW sedan at the intersection of East Flamingo Road and Koval Lane and opened fire. The All Eyez On Me rapper was shot four times, while his label boss was struck in the head by a bullet fragment.
2Pac died in hospital six days later after succumbing to his injuries. He was 25 years old.
