The Las Vegas area home belonging to the family of Duane “Keefe D” Davis — the man charged with the 1996 murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur — was burglarized and ransacked on Wednesday by criminals, according to an exclusive report by Britain’s Daily Mirror.Family members suspect the January 7 intrusion was gang-related.
Duane “Keffe D” Davis appears in Clark County District Court for a trial readiness status check at the Regional Justice Center on June 17, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Davis was indicted on murder charges for his involvement in the killing of rapper Tupac Shakur in 1996. (Image: Steve Marcus-Pool/Getty Images)
Members of Davis’ family returned to their house that evening to find it “turned upside down” — cupboards emptied, furniture upended, shelves dismantled, and belongings scattered. A family friend told the British tabloid that personal items, jewelry, and cash were stolen, but that it seemed less like a burglary and more like a message.
According to the friend, family members are deeply fearful that the intrusion was an act of intimidation or revenge, due to the high-profile nature of the Tupac Shakur case. They fear that either old LA gang rivalries, or overzealous Tupac fans, are responsible.
Davis’ son, Duane Jr., has previously voiced worries that a “green light” to target his father had been issued in prison. The family blames authorities in part, noting that Davis’ home address was made public in court documents following his 2023 arrest.
Davis’ attorney, Michael Pandullo, confirmed the burglary, telling the newspaper: “At this time we are unsure of the motive behind this attack. I would be surprised if whoever did it did not know whose home they were burglarizing. The odds on that would seem to be low, especially given it is a nice neighborhood.”
Pandullo added: “We would hope that there would be some sort of police response.”
Pandullo and co-counsel Robert Draskovich, who took over Davis’ defense last summer, maintain that their client’s case is strong, asserting the prosecution cannot prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Murder Was the Case That They Gave Him
Minutes after this photo was taken at the intersection of Flamingo Road and Koval Lane in Las Vegas, hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur (shown driven by Suge Knight, the head of his record label) was fatally shot. (Image: Corjuni)
Davis, 62, has been in custody since his September 2023 arrest and pleaded not guilty.
An admitted member of the South Side Compton Crips gang, he previously described himself in interviews and his 2019 memoir, “Compton Street Legend,” as the “shot caller” in the September 7, 1996 drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas Strip that killed Shakur six days later — allegedly in retaliation for the beating of Davis’ nephew, Orlando Anderson, earlier that evening by Shakur and his friend and label boss, Suge Knight.
Knight, who was injured in the shooting, has long been associated with the Mob Piru Bloods, the Crips’ longstanding enemy.
However, Davis now claims the statements in his book were fabricated for fame and profit, and he believes a prior proffer agreement he made with the LA police grants him immunity from his current prosecution.
Surveillance footage of the break-in has been turned over to local police in Henderson, Nevada, who are investigating, according to the Mirror. No suspects have been identified yet.
Davis’ trial is scheduled to begin August 10, 2026.
A Nevada judge will hear a defense motion seeking to suppress evidence in the long-awaited murder case against Duane “Keffe D” Davis, as the only person charged in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur faces a trial delay until August 2026
A Nevada district court is set to hear a defense motion next month that could shape the long-awaited murder trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the only person ever charged in connection with the fatal shooting of hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur in 1996. Meanwhile, the trial itself has been postponed until the summer of 2026 as both sides deal with extensive evidence and pretrial legal battles.
A motion to suppress evidence, filed by defense attorneys Robert Draskovich and William Brown, challenges the legality of the nighttime search of Davis’ Henderson, Nevada, home following his arrest in September 2023. Lawyers argue that the search warrant was improperly authorized, alleging that police misled a judge about Davis’ criminal status, potentially making key evidence inadmissible at trial. The hearing is expected next week in Las Vegas’ Clark County District Court in Nevada.
The attorneys for Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the man accused of killing rap icon #Tupac Shakur in 1996, are pushing to suppress evidence obtained in what they claim was an “unlawful nighttime search.”
Davis was arrested in 2023 and has pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder… pic.twitter.com/aoMnRFNMA3
In addition to the suppression motion, Davis’ defense team successfully persuaded a judge to delay the trial, which is now scheduled for August 10, 2026, citing the “overwhelming” amount of evidence that attorneys must review. The murder trial has now been pushed back multiple times. Defense filings had argued that more time was needed not only to examine the “voluminous discovery material” but also to interview witnesses who could contradict prosecutors’ timeline and assertions. The murder of Tupac Shakur is one of the country’s most infamous cold cases, with many witnesses now deceased as more time continues to pass.
Davis’ counsel has also pursued other pretrial avenues, including motions to dismiss the charges entirely on constitutional grounds and appeals to the Nevada Supreme Court. They claimed Davis’ rights were violated by the nearly three-decade delay before charges were brought, and that statements he made in past interviews plus a 2019 memoir should be excluded or treated as fiction (and the fact that he entered into a proffer agreement at one point). A previous motion to dismiss was rejected, but an earlier appeal remains pending. Davis was notorious for allegedly speaking out on the death of Shakur for money and/or clout before he was finally arrested and charged.
In a separate proceeding, Davis was sentenced in September 2025 to 16 to 40 months in prison after being convicted of a jailhouse fight with another inmate at the Clark County Detention Center. He’s expected to serve this sentence while continuing to await trial on the murder charge.
The 1996 killing of Shakur, an iconic figure in rap music, occurred just off the Las Vegas Strip after the rapper attended a boxing match with Suge Knight (who was also injured in the shooting). Shakur was struck multiple times in the drive-by shooting and died six days later. No one had been charged in his death until the 2023 indictment of Davis, a former gang member whose public recounting of the shooting played a role in reigniting the investigation. Davis’ next court date is January 6, 2026.
Christina Applegategot folks out of their seats at the Emmys … and it’s all because of her courage.
The “Dead to Me” star, who is dealing with her multiple sclerosis diagnosis, came out to a standing ovation as she presented the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
Christina used a cane to get to the stage as the crowd rose to its feet and applauded.
Ya gotta see the video … she got emotional about the reception she was getting, and cracked a joke, saying … “You’re totally shaming me with disability by standing up.”
It’s great to see her involved at the Emmys … when she was up for a SAG award last year she said it would likely be her last award show as an actress because of MS.
At that award show she used a cane with a powerful message on it … “F U MS.” While her cane Monday night wasn’t fitted with any such note, Christina’s presence onstage said plenty.
If her acting career is over, as Christina’s predicted, she could certainly still do award show presenting — she had the Emmys crowd wrapped around her finger.
This year is a monumental one for our culture and hip-hop in general. A little genre that started in the Bronx would go on to dominate the world and dictate what’s hot and what’s not worldwide. Often imitated but never duplicated this thing of ours is here to stay. Unfortunately, some of the pioneers left us too soon yet their contributions will live on forever through film and video.
We figured why not take a trip down memory lane and revisit 50 of the most iconic moments in hip-hop. Celebrate the final day of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary over the next five pages.
50 Iconic Moments In Hip-Hop History
These moments are in no particular order but all are significant when we talk about hip-hop. These are the moments that inspired a generation and pushed our culture forward. If you were lucky enough to experience some of these you know just how beautiful they were for something that wasn’t even accepted at first. Furthermore, hip-hop was the underdog and is now the determining factor in what is cool and what isn’t.
Tupac Sign’s To Death Row & Releases The Iconic “California Love” Video After Release From Jail
Young Dolph Survives 100 Shots and Releases Bulletproof
Dr. Dre Sells Beats by Dre To Apple For $3 Billion
Kanye West’s infamous “George Bush Doesn’t Care About Black People” statement
Suge Knight Disses Diddy During The Source Awards
If hip-hop was the Marvel Universe this would be the nexus moment that happens in every universe that can’t be undone. It changes the trajectories of several people and pushes hip-hop further into the forefront of entertainment. After all, drama sells, and very well at that.
Andre 3000’s infamous “The South Got Something To Say”
Nas Vs Jay-Z
Brawl Breaks Out During The 2000 Source Awards
TI Calls Out Lil’ Flip During Birthday Bash
Three 6 Mafia Wins An Oscar For A Song About Pimpin
Kool Herc Throws a Back-to-School Jam That Would Be Seen As The “Birth” Of Hip-Hop
Lil Nas X Makes Grammy History Becoming The First Openly Gay Rapper To Become Nominated
Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar & 50 Cent Headline The Pepsi SB LVI Halftime Show
Run DMC & Aerosmith Cross Genres For “Walk This Way”
2 Live Crew’s Banned In The U.S.A Becomes First Album To Receive “Parental Advisory” Sticker
Yo! MTV Raps Premiers In 1998
Rick Rubin & Russell Simmons Create Def Jam Records
They probably won’t be watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (or maybe they will?!), but celebrity inmates will get a semblance of Thanksgiving food today.
Tory Lanez (pictured above), his prison mate Suge Knight, and R. Kelly will receive an interesting spread today. But, of course, it won’t be anywhere near the luxe celebrations we’re sure to see around social media from other celebs at home.
According to TMZ, Tory and Suge will be breaking bread at the San Diego’s Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility and gobbling up roast turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cornbread dressing, diced carrots, dinner roll, green salad, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie.
Robert Kelly will dip into a spread at North Carolina’s FCI Butner Medium I that includes roast turkey, baked candied sweet potatoes, cornbread dressing, green beans, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, pumpkin pie. He may or may not be singing the prayer.
The site also said, “We’re not saying the above inmates deserve special holiday festivities, but card games, relay races, bingo, checkers, chess and team sports will be available to some of ’em.”
The estate of the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was shot and killed on the set of Rust, … [+] settled last week. (Photo by Mostafa Bassim Adly/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images).
Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
News of Rust Movie Productions LLC’s and Alec Baldwin’s settlement with the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ estate broke last week, almost eight months after Attorney Brian Panish filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Defendants. In October 2021, Hutchins was shot and killed by a prop gun on the set of Rust, which will resume production at the start of 2023 with Hutchins’ widow, Matthew, now an Executive Producer. Hutchins’ death was traumatic, and many are still wondering whether actor and producer Alec Baldwin pulled the trigger. “I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame (to the producers or Mr. Baldwin). All of us believe Halyna’s death was a terrible accident. I am grateful that the producers and the entertainment community have come together to pay tribute to Halyna’s final work,” said the surviving Hutchins.
Although unique in its circumstances, Halyna Hutchins’ accidental death is one of several tragic incidents that have spurred wrongful death lawsuits in Tinseltown. Recently, the likes of Kobe Bryant, Travis Scott, Suge Knight, Bill Paxton, Joel Silver, Naya Rivera, and Drakeo The Ruler have been subjects of wrongful death lawsuits. A wrongful death lawsuit is brought when one or many die as the result of negligent—not always criminal or intentional—acts. In California, the time one has (called the “statute of limitations”) to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation is generally two years (with some exceptions, including bringing a claim against a government entity). The statutes vary from state to state. In California, Code of Civil Procedure 377.60 governs wrongful death.
Let’s examine the circumstances surrounding some of these wrongful death lawsuits, which will demonstrate that we undoubtedly will see more and more of these types of lawsuits in the years to come.
In one of the most high-profile wrongful death lawsuits of the past few years, Vanessa Bryant sued Island Express Helicopters, the company that operated the helicopter that crashed killing Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant, and seven others. The complaint alleged that Island Express and/or the pilot Ara Zobayan “failed to properly monitor and assess the weather prior to takeoff,” “failed to abort the flight when he knew of the cloudy conditions,” and “failed to properly and safely operate the helicopter resulting in a crash.” Further, “Defendant Island Express Helicopters knew or should have known that its employee, Ara George Zobayan, had previously been cited by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for violating the visual flight rules (VFR) minimums by flying into an airspace of reduced visibility from weather conditions.” All of these accusations amount to gross negligence and lack of proper care. Upon last year’s findings, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairman Robert Sumwalt told CNN that “We feel that if certain recommendations (are) implemented, the likelihood of a crash goes down.” The case was settled under confidential terms last year.
Travis Scott, Live Nation, Apple, Drake, and Epic Records were named in wrongful death lawsuits that … [+] occurred at his Astroworld Festival in 2021 (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images).
Getty Images
The Travis Scott Astroworld tragedy that killed ten (plus one unborn baby) led to several wrongful death lawsuits being filed against Scott, Live Nation, Apple, Drake, and Epic Records among many others. There was no premeditation that led to these deaths, however, several precautions could have been taken to prevent this tragic day. Travis Scott’s reputation for inciting violence at his concerts should have led the concert producers and organizers to better control the crowd and implement enhanced safety measures in the event that things got out of hand. The victims’ loved ones believe that several parties could have done more to prevent the deaths, thus the multiple defendants in the lawsuit. In 2022, concert producers and promoters know that there is great risk in putting on concerts, especially when the performers have reputations for encouraging mosh pits, drinking, and general mayhem. People have been injured and died at concerts as far back as the 1960s at The Who, Guns n’ Roses, Pearl Jam, and Harry Styles concerts, among others, which provide precedent for doing whatever it takes to protect concert attendees. It is presumed that a portion of the cost of the concert ticket goes to security, and it is also presumed that the venue has strategic security plans in place. During the investigation phase of a wrongful death lawsuit, the best wrongful death attorneys will know which experts to hire to reconstruct accident sites, which are crucial when car accidents are involved, and how to interface with insurance companies. It is usually at this time that both sides start thinking about a settlement, particularly when a good plaintiff attorney exposes negligence and fault.
Earlier this year, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed on behalf of Drakeo The Ruler’s five-year-old son against Live Nation and other promoters of the Once Upon a Time In LA festival, citing a lack of “proper safety measures” after Drakeo was murdered. The lawsuit states that Drakeo was killed “at the hand of a violent mob of purported members of a Los Angeles-based Bloods gang.” The lawsuit goes on to say that his death was a “result of a complete and abject failure of all Defendants to implement proper safety measures in order to ensure the safety and well-being of the artists whom they invited and hired to their music festival.” The lawsuit slams the promoters and organizers for not having a strategic security plan in place since the gangsters had direct access to Drakeo in a restricted area.
Wrongful death lawsuits don’t always emerge from vehicular accidents or concert fiascos. Actor Bill Paxton died in 2017 from surgery complications leading to a stroke. Although the statute of limitations vary a bit when it comes to medical malpractice, Paxton’s wife and children claim that negligence and a lack of adherence to safety procedures killed the Big Love actor. The 2018 wrongful death lawsuit named Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, surgeon Dr. Ali Khoynezhad, General Anesthesia Specialists Partnership, and anesthesiologist Dr. Moody Makar as Defendants. The Defendants, citing business decisions, settled with Paxton’s family this year. It appears that the costs of defending the lawsuit became untenable for the Defendants.
In 2015, Die Hard and Lethal Weapon producer Joel Silver was hit with a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of his former assistant, Carmel Musgrove, who drowned in Bora Bora with Silver, his family, and staff while vacationing and celebrating the honeymoon of actors Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux. Musgrove allegedly was supplied alcohol and cocaine by Silver’s chef, Martin Herold, who allegedly was in a romantic relationship with Musgrove. This year, Second District Court of Appeal panel ruled that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Dennis J. Landin was correct in granting Silver’s motion to dismiss last year. In short, Silver was not liable for Musgrave’s death since it occurred on vacation and not during the course of employment. In this case, Silver was not found to be negligent and the lawsuit did not satisfy the elements of the claim.
In another wrongful death lawsuit involving a vehicle, Suge Knight was sued by Terry Carter’s widow, Lillian Carter, and his two daughters, Crystal and Nekaya, for a tragic incident that happened on the set of the 2015 film Straight Outta Compton involving Knight, Carter and Cle “Bone” Sloan. During an argument, Knight struck the two men with his truck, killing Carter. Knight is currently serving 28 years in federal prison after pleading no contest to the voluntary manslaughter of Carter. However, in the wrongful death civil suit, the jury was deadlocked 7-5 (needing 9 in favor of the plaintiff), leading to a mistrial. Universal Studios, and producers Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, were also named in the lawsuit because they were allegedly aware of the tension between Knight and Sloan.
In our final case study, involving a government entity (remember from above that the statute of limitations is different in a case against a governmental entity), Ventura County was sued for wrongful death in the Lake Piru drowning of Grammy-winning actress Naya Rivera. The suit was filed by the father of Rivera’s son as well as Rivera’s estate and her business manager. Several accusations of breaches of duty of care and negligence appeared in the complaint. In short, it was alleged that Ventura County, United Water Conservation District, and Lake Piru’s Parks and Recreation Management Company, which rented a pontoon to Rivera and her son Josey, did not equip the pontoon with proper safety devices; there were no warnings of Lake Piru’s “strong currents, low visibility, high winds, changing water depths, underwater caves, ledges, and drop-offs, or the trees, brush, and other debris that congest its waters due to vastly changing water levels and winds.” The lawsuit also stated that 26 people have drowned in Lake Piru since its recreational facilities opened. In short, it was alleged that Ventura County and the other entities did not take the proper care to warn people that Lake Piru poses certain dangers and that the boats they rent are not safe. A settlement was reached earlier this year.
In today’s world, it is hard to imagine that we will see a decrease in the number of wrongful death lawsuits in Hollywood. As long as there is negligence, breach of duty, causation, and quantifiable damages, wrongful death lawsuits and the courts will continue to be the best way for loved ones to seek justice for a death that might have been prevented. Investigation and the right experts are necessary to satisfy the burden of proof, which falls squarely on the people bringing the lawsuit. However, heeding the words of the NTSB’s Sumwalt, and studying the facts of the examples above, one would hope that future potential defendants would learn from the mistakes of others to help prevent unnecessary deaths.
John J. Perlstein is a wrongful death lawyer in Los Angeles. He has been bringing and litigating wrongful death lawsuits for over 25 years. He also handles personal injury claims, including those involving complex car accidents, motorcycle accidents, trips and falls, catastrophic injuries, and premises liability.
