In a new legal move, Duane Davis, a former gang leader, is asking the District Court of Nevada to drop the charges against him related to the 1996 killing of rap legend Tupac Shakur. Davis’ attorney, Carl Arnold, filed a motion on Monday, arguing that the case has been mishandled due to a 27-year delay and lack of solid evidence.
Arnold claims that the long delay in prosecution has severely harmed Davis’ chances for a fair trial. The motion also alleges that immunity agreements given to Davis by federal and local authorities have not been honored.
“The delay in prosecuting this case has caused irreversible harm to my client’s rights,” Arnold said in a statement. “Ignoring immunity agreements not only damages trust in the justice system but also raises serious doubts about this case.”
Davis, who hails from Compton, California, was arrested in September 2023 near Las Vegas. He faces a first-degree murder charge but has pleaded not guilty. Since his arrest, Davis has sought release from custody.
Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson, who oversees the case, has not commented on the recent filing. However, Wolfson previously stated that the evidence against Davis is strong and that a jury will ultimately decide the credibility of his statements, including those in Davis’ 2019 memoir.
The case remains one of the most infamous unresolved mysteries in the music industry, and Davis’ motion could impact its future direction.
