Today is day seven of the trial of Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis, accused of orchestrating the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas in 1996.

On Monday, the trial began with a heated exchange between defense attorney Michael Sanft and Michael Dorsey, a documentarian who has worked as a consultant on Death Row Chronicles, while he was called to the witness stand.

Duane “Keffe D” Davis did paid interviews for the project. Dorsey said he took the information to Las Vegas Metro police, kept a detective informed, and recorded audio from the interview. Aside from the recordings for the t.v. production, his lawyer pressed him.

Clark County District Judge Carli Kierny stepped in a few times – but not every time.

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Q: Did Orlando have permission for shooting at car wash? A: Gonna do what he’s gonna do if shot caller not there. Q: Search warrants. A: We took initiative.

Juror question: Q: Why is Tupac not considered a member of Mob Piru? A: He showed some allegiance, but he wasn’t in street gang banging.

Q: About Reggie Wright Jr. A: Head of security Q: About shot caller. A: If he’s present, most likely they’ll do what he tells them to do

Prosecutor asking about Davis being a shot caller and how this would affect his role if he was in the car used in drive by shooting.

Mayor went to the city council and voted to bring in the sheriff. Mayor ended up getting arrested and convicted. 100+ year old police department lost.

Sanft. Did you ever determine that Tupac was a gang member?

Ladd: No

Sanft: Why?

Ladd: Because he wasn’t. His entourage was Mob Piru.

Sanft: Any disclaimer on your book?

Ladd: No.

Sanft asking about task force investigating murder of Biggie Smalls. Tim Brennan working with Greg Kading. Compton PD dismantled.

Sanft: Was there corruption?

Ladd: No. Mayor was being investigated by the FBI, blamed the police chief.

Orlando Anderson with best friend at burger stand in Compton. Car wash across street. Recognized 3 people in car; one owed money for narcotics. Orlando initiated confrontation, exited w/ gun. Person in car had gun. Shootout at car wash & two people in other car killed. All Crips.

Sanft asks about a hotel receipt that was taken during a search warrant, according to a document. Asks if he knows where the receipt is. Log of property taken. Lists documents from hotel. Sanft is asking where they are. Money due bill Monte Carlo casino. May 1997 when found. Date? No.

Sanft cross examination: Asking Ladd about ‘Once Upon a Time in Compton.’ Asking about the ticket stub included in book, which was located in Suge Knight’s house during a search.
S: 8 NEWS VEGAS

Brennan passed away from cancer several years ago.

Compton PD looked into 38 residences. Search warrants. One document states that a receipt from Excalibur was found for Orlando Anderson. Hotel receipt collected from house of Duane Davis.

Ladd: There was no doubt in my mind that South Side Crips were responsible for shooting Tupac Shakur and Suge Knight. Says Mob Piru targeted South Side Crips while they had 50+ other gangs to choose from in Compton.

Talks about the significance of ripping off someone’s chain. Reggie Wright Sr. informed him about the shooting in Las Vegas. Said, “get ready.” War was expected in Compton. Two days after Tupac was shot, there was a shooting. OG was shot, along with bystander who was 10 y/o girl.

Trevon Lane: mid-level in the mid-90s. James McDonald: OG. Reggie Wright Jr: worked at Compton PD. On gang life: these guys lived for respect. If disrespected, must retaliate or considered punk in streets, lose credibility. Retaliation often a motive for shootings & murders.

Prosecutor asks about Mob Piru. Identify themselves by wearing red. Ladd: Bloods & Crips never got along since they originated in the 70s. Says Suge Knight wasn’t really a gang member. James McDonald: Mob James. His house was main hangout for Mob Piru. Two younger bros.

Ladd identifies Davis in the room. Prosecutor asks about Orlando Anderson. Ladd says he had many contacts with him and was there for Anderson’s gang initiation. Driving out of fast food restaurant w/ partner. Heard shots hit car. Saw 3 guys run. Initiation if he tried to kill them.

Ladd: In the mid-90s, Duane Davis was a shot caller for South Side Compton Crips. He could tell younger gangsters what to do, and if they didn’t listen, there could be severe consequences. Davis was a high-level narcotics dealer. Compton didn’t have resources to go after that level.

Phases: BG: Baby Gangster phase. Age 12 to 16. Get beaten up. Maybe sell drugs. Lower level. Gangster Phase: age 15/16 to 25/26. Drive-by shootings. Murders. Carjackings. Get respect in gang. Most violent time. Leaders or shot callers: 25/26 & up. Tell younger ones what to do.

South Side Crips: identify themselves by wearing blue. Adopted Seattle Mariners hat…S for South Side Crips. Duane Davis: rank was as high as you can get.

Refers to snitching. Good citizens afraid to come forward. Often rely on informants. “These guys take the code very seriously.” Problem if you’re labeled a snitch. Might have to leave the state.

DJ Quik wrote an underground song about his partner Tim Brennan, ‘Blondie.’ 1993: promoted to gang homicide detective. Did it until 2000. Had 100s of homicide cases, thousands of shootings. Gang cases “hardest to solve, especially in Compton bc there is code out in street…”

WITNESS Robert Ladd, police officer for 32 years. Started in 1983, hired by the City of Compton. Promoted to gang unit. Compton: 10-square-mile city, 100K people, many gangs. Partner was Tim Brennan. Reggie Wright Sr. in charge. Compton at that time: 70-80 homicides a year.

Looks like they are fired from the same gun.

Jury back. WITNESS Mark Hatten, Las Vegas Metro police officer since 2007. Worked in a program overseen by the ATF to take high-resolution images of cartridge fired out of firearm. 7 cartridge cases recovered from 1996 crime scene. 2023: reexamined cartridge cases.

Juror says she knows the witness, crime scene analyst. Co-worker’s husband. Judge asking juror questions. Co-worker “very proud of him, she speaks highly of his work.” Says she’s never spoken to him. Juror: no bias. Judge says she doesn’t think it’s issue, juror stays.

Sanft keeps asking about Mogg working on the case…and whether there was an officer’s report.

Prosecutor redirect: Points out police & prosecutors work closely together. Gatus: “we have the same mission.” Decision made to keep Mogg on the case as he retired from Metro police and began working for the DA’s office. Prosecutor: Anything inappropriate? Gatus; Mogg best fit.

Sanft asks about $ due bill for Monte Carlo, points out the date is unknown. Electronic devices seized during search warrant at home of Davis in 2023. Asks if police searched computers to confirm whether Davis wrote ‘Compton Street Legend.’ Conclusion appears to be Mogg may know.

Cross-examination from Sanft: Asking Gatus about police speaking with Yusuf Jah, listed as co-author of ‘Compton Street Legend.’ Sanft asks if they issued a compelling order or warrant for Foxy Brown. Gatus says she doesn’t know who she is.

Issued arrest warrant for Corey Edwards. Detective says he and his mom missing from a location. Effort made to find them.

Those issued in California. Also notes another one in NY.

Prosecutor puts it on record that there were six compelling orders…forcing witnesses to comply.

April 23, 2026. They went to evidence vault. Police, prosecutors & defense. Prosecutor showing some items on monitor: Copy of search warrant from Compton PD, 5/27/97. Return: money due bill for Monte Carlo, newspaper articles about the murder of Shakur, Death Row Records, etc.

WITNESS Justine Gatus, Las Vegas Metro police detective. Cliff Mogg was on her squad. She learned he was investigating murder of Tupac Shakur. She was present during search warrant at home of Davis in 2023. Bins collected. Mogg retired in August 2023. Case indicted next month.

WITNESS: another crime scene analyst from Las Vegas Metro police Steavie Felabom. Prosecutor going through what police found, including November 1996 VIBE magazine.

Evidence collected at the Henderson home of Davis during search warrant in 2023. Document with budget for a production nearing $1 million.

WITNESS: Jeffrey Scott. Senior crime scene analyst with Las Vegas Metro police.

Juror question: were shots fired from your crew to the attackers? Answer: no

Cross examination from defense attorney Michael Sanft: E.D.I. Mean says Tupac Shakur was going to perform at Club 662 that night. Says he was in a Lexus while Tupac Shakur was in Suge Knight’s car. He was directly behind them.

Gives statement to police, but says he could not identify who was in the car. Only saw silhouettes. Says he is the second person from the right sitting on the ground in this pic.

But then Suge Knight made u-turn. So then they follow Suge to intersection where Suge stops. They are unable to make it to Tupac’s vehicle. Shakur told him: “Get on the ground, they’re gonna shoot you.” Sees shotgun in face, gets on ground. It was a police officer holding gun.

Says they were at light, Tupac talking to ladies, saw 4-door white Cadillac, shots came from inside the vehicle, from back seat. Saw arm come out of vehicle. From his vantage point, person appeared to be African American. “I’m horrified.” Got out of car to check on Tupac.

DAY SEVEN of Tupac Shakur murder trial. WITNESS: Malcolm Greenidge, aka E.D.I. Mean of Outlaws. Forced to be here by court order. Prosecutor Binu Palal asking him about 9/7/96. He was in caravan of cars to head to Club 662. He was in car behind Suge Knight & Tupac Shakur. S: 8 NEWS VEGAS