Full Keefe D Interview Resurfaces With Tupac Confession Explained

Duane “Keefe D” Davis is changing his story again, claiming his infamous accounts of Tupac Shakur’s murder were scripted, financially motivated and designed to protect his family from federal prosecution. This is not the first time we’ve see part of this interview.

Davis made the= assertions during a jailhouse interview with investigative reporter Vanessa Murphy of the Las Vegas-based show High Heels And Hidden Truths. The interview was conducted shortly before Davis went on trial for allegedly orchestrating the September 1996 drive-by shooting that killed Tupac near the Las Vegas Strip. And now she has released the whole interview, with Davis’s entire defense (as much as his lawyers would allow.)

“I haven’t done anything,” Davis told Murphy flatly. “I’m an innocent man.”

Prosecutors have built a significant portion of their case around Davis’ own words. Over the years, the reputed former South Side Compton Crips figure discussed Tupac’s murder with investigators, documentary filmmakers and online interviewers.

Davis also co-authored the 2019 memoir Compton Street Legend, which included a detailed account of the events surrounding the shooting.

But Davis now insists the public should not believe everything attributed to him. He says his motive was most rooted in capitalism and survival.

“I did it for the money,” he said of the paid interviews and book. “The ghostwriter did it. I didn’t write that book,” he said. “I don’t know anything about Winston Churchill or Frank Sinatra. Just read the book. You know I didn’t write that book.” Yusef Jah, the ghostwriter, has not testified but he is listed by the prosecution as a potential witness.

According to Davis, he provided approximately 10 photographs and shared stories from his life. He claimed the book’s co-author supplied the language and additional material.

“He added all the adjectives and verbs,” Davis said. “He wrote that book from research.”

Murphy: Before you did the VladTV interview and published the book, did your family ever tell you not to do it because it could get you in trouble?

Davis: I did it for the money. You know what I’m saying?

Murphy: Did anyone close to you warn you that you might be arrested after authorities heard what you said or read the book?

Murphy: Do you regret the book and the interviews?

Davis: Yeah. I was just after the money, and they said I was covered. I was trying to feed my family.

Murphy: Looking back, would you still have participated in the book and given those interviews?

Davis: No. They threw me under the tractor-trailer. It’s wrong. That is why people don’t mess with law enforcement, because of shady stuff like what is going on.

Murphy: How concerned are you that you will be convicted and won’t get to spend your final years with your family?

Davis: I think the Ninth Circuit is going to let me go because this isn’t right.

Murphy: Do you remember where you were on the night Tupac Shakur was murdered?

Davis: Yeah, but my lawyer told me not to talk about that. I’m going to respect that.

Murphy: Prosecutors argue that many details you have shared about your life were accurate, including your prison time, drug dealing and role with the Crips. Their point is that if those details were true, your statements about the murder may also be true.

Davis: This is a bunch of lies.

Murphy: Did you have anything to do with Tupac Shakur’s murder?

Davis: No, ma’am. No, ma’am.

Murphy: Authorities say they have evidence placing you in Las Vegas.

Davis: There aren’t any receipts. I read all the discovery, and I haven’t seen one receipt. They’re lying. It’s wrong. I’m an innocent man.

They say, “He’s a Crip.” I haven’t been around that stuff since about 1989. I stopped that stuff and pulled up my pants. I’m not a leader of the Crips. There was no color line for me. I dealt with Bloods, Crips, everybody. I helped some guys get a record company together.

Why would I kill the guy making us the most money? He was the best rapper back then. Why would I kill our money? It doesn’t make sense.

Murphy: Then why did you make those admissions to law enforcement?

Davis: My lawyer came to me and gave me a script. He said, “Remember this. This is the only way you’re going home.”

They were trying to target Sean Combs. I remembered the script because I used to do plays in elementary school. I had a good voice. I went to my lawyer’s office that morning and practiced it. Then I went in and said what they wanted me to say.

They told me it would save my friends and family and squash the indictment. They were talking about taking my son to jail. He was about 14 years old.

Murphy: When you described the shooting step by step in the VladTV interview, it sounded believable.

Davis: They wrote me a script to follow. I was looking at my lawyer and the ghostwriter, making sure I was saying the right stuff.

Murphy: Did you consider Tupac’s family while discussing his murder in interviews and in the book?

Davis: No. I just did it for the money. I was trying to feed my family.

Murphy: Do you feel remorse for telling that story, even though you now say you had nothing to do with the murder?

Davis: To me, I was framed and set up. They said they were going to give me life, take my son, take everybody’s property and put 48 people in jail.

I sacrificed myself for my people so they wouldn’t destroy everybody’s life. I felt like I was the sacrificial animal.

I’m lucky and blessed. I survived colon cancer. I beat the feds, and I beat the streets.

Murphy: Court documents also discuss the murder of Christopher Wallace, the Notorious B.I.G. At one point, you were reportedly considered a suspect. Did you have anything to do with his death?

Davis: Nothing to do with anybody’s murder. They took my car and did forensics on it. That car was never shot out of. I was in the parking garage when that man was killed. People came running back saying, “They just killed Biggie.”

Murphy: Do you believe Sean “Diddy” Combs had anything to do with Tupac’s murder?

Davis: No, ma’am. I don’t think so at all.

Murphy: If you had nothing to do with Tupac’s murder, who do you believe did?

Davis: To me, they need to look at Reggie Wright Jr. All he does is lie and tell stories. He has threatened my son and my family in interviews. It’s wrong.

Editor’s note: Reggie Wright Jr. has denied any involvement in Shakur’s murder. Davis’ allegations about Wright, law enforcement officials and other individuals remain disputed. Davis is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.