Davis Seeks To Suppress Evidence: Duane "Keffe D" Davis’ lawyers asked a Nevada judge to exclude items seized in a nighttime search, calling the raid unlawful and based on a misleading portrayal of him. The motion says the court relied on generalized safety arguments rather than the case-specific urgency Nevada law requires. Davis, arrested in 2023 in connection with Tupac Shakur’s 1996 killing, has pleaded not guilty and is expected to go to trial in August.
Tupac Suspect Duane “Keffe D” Davis Challenges Las Vegas Nighttime Raid, Seeks Suppression Of Evidence
Tupac Shakur murder suspect challenges Las Vegas police search as 'unlawful' nighttime raid
Attorneys for Duane "Keffe D" Davis asked a Nevada court on Monday to suppress evidence seized during a nighttime search of his Henderson home, calling the raid "unlawful" and based on misleading information presented to a judge.
Duane Davis, left, looks back during a hearing on claims of juror misconduct in his jailhouse battery case at the Regional Justice Center July 2 in Las Vegas.
The motion, filed in Clark County District Court, argues that the warrant-authorizing judge relied on a distorted depiction of Davis that exaggerated his role and criminal history. Defense attorneys Robert Draskovich and William Brown say Davis was portrayed as a current gang leader when, according to the motion and reporting from KLAS-TV, his drug convictions date to roughly 25 years ago and he is now a 60-year-old retired cancer survivor who had lived quietly in the same home for nearly a decade.
Duane "Keefe D" Davis arrives in a Las Vegas court Oct. 19, 2023, for his arraignment on murder charges in the death of rapper Tupac Shakur.
Defense Says Night Search Was Not Justified
The lawyers contend Nevada law requires case-specific urgency or safety reasons to permit a nighttime entry, and that the court accepted generalized safety theories that could apply to almost any home search. "The court wasn’t told any of this," the motion states, adding that the warrant therefore authorized a nighttime search "based on a portrait of Davis that bore little resemblance to reality — a clearly erroneous factual determination."
Tupac Shakur was killed in a drive-by shooting in 1996.
Police Response And Case Background
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department declined to comment to The Associated Press about the court filing, but previously said a nighttime search would let officers surround the residence and more safely evacuate neighbors if Davis barricaded himself inside. Fox News Digital also sought comment from the department.
Davis was arrested in 2023 in connection with the 1996 drive-by killing of rapper Tupac Shakur. He has pleaded not guilty and is expected to stand trial in August. Prosecutors had not filed a response to the suppression motion at the time of the report.
Previous Challenges And Wider Context
Defense attorneys previously sought to counter what they describe as sensationalized portrayals of Davis, including a petition to the Nevada Supreme Court that was denied. In that earlier filing they argued the Shakur killing has been mythologized in popular culture — likening its treatment to the JFK assassination — and suggested that narratives around the case can tempt individuals to claim a central role for personal gain.
The Associated Press contributed reporting to this story.
