Newly released body camera footage reveals the arrest of Dwayne “Keffe D” Davis, the man accused of orchestrating the murder of iconic rapper Tupac Shakur. This arrest comes after 27 years, prompting questions about the evidence that finally led to this development and the long-awaited pursuit of justice.
Bodycam Footage Captures Arrest of Keffe D
The footage shows a Las Vegas metro police officer approaching Keffe D near his residence. “Hey Keith, metro police, come over here,” the officer calls out. Keffe D calmly obliges.
Bodycam footage of Keffe D's arrest.
The interaction remains courteous throughout, with Keffe D even requesting a drink as officers place him in handcuffs and leg shackles. “I’m a pro, dude, I got it,” Keffe D remarks, his familiarity with law enforcement procedures evident. This arrest marks another chapter in his extensive criminal history, which includes federal prison time for drug charges and ties to the Southside Compton Crips.
Grand Jury Presented With Key Evidence
Keffe D’s arrest follows a three-month grand jury investigation, where prosecutors presented compelling evidence. This included photographs of the individuals accompanying Keffe D in the white Cadillac on the night of Tupac’s murder: the driver, Terrence Brown, along with passengers DeAndre “Big Dre” Smith and Keffe D’s nephew, Orlando Anderson.
Keffe D’s Own Words Used Against Him
Adding to the weight of the evidence were clips from an interview Keffe D gave to the YouTube channel “The Art of Dialogue.” In the interview, recorded in September 2021, Keffe D recounts how he and his associates were seeking Tupac at Club 662 following an altercation between Tupac, Suge Knight, and Keffe D’s nephew, Orlando Anderson, at the MGM Grand.
Keffe D during an interview for The Art of Dialogue YouTube channel.
He details how they spotted Tupac and Knight driving, even noting women shouting Tupac’s name. Keffe D claims, “I first shot [meaning someone in his group shot] Big Boy [Suge Knight] in the head. I thought he was dead, like damn dead.” He goes on to imply that “Dre” was supposed to target Tupac and Knight, but “he got scared.”
Keffe D further alleges that the gun was then passed to Orlando Anderson, who fired the fatal shots. This contradicts witness testimony from the grand jury, which pointed to “Big Dre” as the shooter.
Photographic Evidence and Witness Testimony
Prosecutors presented a range of photos to the grand jury, including one of Tupac and Knight moments before the shooting and another of a Death Row Records chain worn by Tupac that night. They also included crime scene images: vehicles in the entourage, the blood-stained interior of the BMW, and shell casings scattered on the ground.
Photo of Tupac Shakur and Suge Knight in a car before the shooting.
Kathy Scott, an experienced reporter who covered the Tupac Shakur murder case extensively and authored two books on the topic, shared her insights on the arrest and the complexities that have surrounded the investigation for decades. She believes the police department’s apparent reluctance to solve the case stemmed from a desire to avoid the potential negative impact on tourism that a high-profile trial involving gang members might bring.
Keffe D’s Admissions Prove Pivotal
Scott highlighted the significance of Keffe D’s public admissions about the case, stating, “As one cop once told me, ‘Us Crips are stupid, that’s why they get caught, and you can’t keep people from themselves.’”
His book, “Compton Street Legend,” and numerous interviews, including one with BET, inadvertently provided crucial evidence. Scott argues, “For some reason, he thought he was just bragging on where he was and what he did and thought … only one person would be responsible when everybody in the car was responsible.”
The arrest, though decades in the making, brings a renewed sense of hope for justice in the unsolved murder of Tupac Shakur. Whether the case goes to trial or a plea deal is reached, Keffe D’s admissions and the evidence presented to the grand jury have undoubtedly brought long-awaited progress to a case that has captivated the world for almost 30 years.
