Duane “Keefe D” Davis — the only suspect arrested in connection with the 1996 shooting death of Tupac Shakur — has hired new attorneys as he prepares for trial. On Tuesday, defense lawyers Michael Pandullo and Robert Draskovich told media they have been retained to represent Davis on the murder charge.

Why the Change?

Davis had been represented by attorney Carl Arnold, but Pandullo said the change came after Davis was found guilty earlier this year in a jailhouse altercation. Pandullo compared the decision to a sports team switching coaches after coming up short, saying Davis opted for fresh leadership as he moves deeper into pretrial preparation.

Scope of Representation

Pandullo and Draskovich were explicit that their representation is limited to the current murder prosecution. The attorneys said they were retained last week, are still reviewing the voluminous case file, and plan to file multiple motions in the coming weeks as they get up to speed.

Background on the Case

Davis was arrested in September 2023 and has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Tupac Shakur. A central part of the prosecution’s case includes Davis’ prior statements in interviews and passages from his 2019 memoir Compton Street Legend, in which he discussed the shooting. Davis has since claimed the co-author took “artistic liberties,” even saying he has “never read the book.”

Immunity Claim Rejected

Earlier motions filed by Davis attempted to dismiss the murder charge on grounds that he had previously obtained immunity agreements with federal and local authorities. In January, Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny denied that argument, finding Davis presented no proof of any immunity deal and noting the state of Nevada had never offered such a deal.

Trial Timeline and Next Steps

Pandullo and Draskovich told reporters they expect to be ready for the current trial date of February 9, 2026, though they acknowledged “a lot” of work remains, including witness interviews and motion practice. The trial was previously delayed after defense requests for more time to investigate and interview witnesses.

Why it matters: The murder of Tupac Shakur remains one of music’s most notorious cold cases. Any developments in the Davis prosecution will be closely watched by fans, legal observers, and the music industry worldwide.