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BROKEN MAN
Gangster Keefe D ‘struggling in jail’ after shock year where bragging about Tupac’s death landed him with murder charge
Keefe was hoping to be freed from jail and on bail by Christmas
THE Tupac Shakur suspect has gone from being a revered “OG” bragging about his links to the rapper on YouTube to being seen as a “dumba**” in jail on murder charges following a rollercoaster year.
And while Keefe projects himself inside a Las Vegas courtroom as being “confident and steadfast” in front of the media, sources say he is “very down” about his upcoming year.
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Former Compton gang kingpin Keefe D is “struggling” after a couple of months behind bars in protective custody. One stark reality is that his image as a “famous gangster” from the 1990s has now eroded with many “in his old hood seeing him as a joke who ran his mouth” about his involvement in the decade-old case, a source revealed.
He is said to be “frustrated” that his legal team did not apply immediately for bail after his trial date hearing in early November, says an LA associate.
Instead, the 33-page bail application was filed on December 14, just over a week before Christmas - in which lawyers claimed Keefe only gave interviews about the Tupac murder to make money and for "entertainment purposes."
However, instead of making a quick buck, Keefe, real name Duane Davis, is now in custody in a Las Vegas jail awaiting trial on a murder charge for his role in the brutal 1996 killing of the New York rap icon in Las Vegas.
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The first indication that Keefe could end up behind bars over the case was back in July when detectives on the case searched his home in Henderson, Nevada.
Then in September, after a six-week grand jury heard evidence they thought was powerful enough to prosecute him, Keefe was arrested near his home.
Keefe appeared to enjoy the limelight from his connection to Tupac, even famously telling police it is the “biggest case in Las Vegas history” according to bodycam footage from the arrest.
It came after Keefe had given many interviews about how he was a key player in organizing gang members to hunt down Shakur for assassination. He also outlined the murder in his memoir Compton Street Legend.
Most read in The US Sun
Detectives confirmed his comments led them to a murder charge, which could result in life imprisonment.
Now a source told The U.S. Sun that Keefe is dealing with several issues affecting his mental well-being and mindset as he sits in jail awaiting trial.
'LEGEND TO JOKE'
The insider said: “Keefe is going through a range of emotions right now, but one of the hardest parts of this criminal process is that his status has gone from an OG street legend to a joke within criminal circles.
“He is seen as a dumba** for getting himself in such trouble and facing life in jail, and this moment facing the threat of retribution inside. As weird as it sounds, that hit to his image has hurt his ego. It’s quite incredible with everything else going on, this is a big deal to him.”
The source, who knows Keefe’s family members, explained: “Of course, his ego has taken this hit, but also when someone falls like that in this world, you go from being seen as untouchable and respected to becoming vulnerable.
“So in real terms, day-to-day life is a greater problem. He fears for his safety because his status is done. He tells his family he has fears for what could happen in jail.”
MISSES HIS FAMILY
The source added of the one-time self-confessed LA kingpin and multi-millionaire drug dealer: “He hates being locked up for most of the day alone in protective custody and is missing his family dearly.
“His perception of the legal process is very different to the reality. He thought that straight after the trial date court appearance, the wheels would kick in motion for his bail application. But matters like that take time and are a proper process of legal steps.”
Keefe is represented by state-appointed special public defenders Robert Arroyo and Charles Cano.
They have spent time with Keefe starting to build a defense against the murder charges.
Judge Carli Kierney set his trial for June 3, 2024.
SAVED FROM DEATH ROW
Kierney and the Vegas District Attorney's office announced that the former Crip gang leader will be saved death by lethal injection if convicted of being a central figure in the murder of Shakur in Las Vegas, 27 years ago.
The Sun was present in court in November when Keefe appeared a “broken man” minutes after acting nonchalant in front of media and other suspects at his hearing.
With his shoulders hunched over and ashen-faced, he stared vacantly at his son as he was ushered out of court back to jail following his trial date setting.
Mumbling to his son "hey" and shaking his head in disbelief, overwhelmed Keefe appeared a broken man.
The 60-year-old loitered for a moment to lock eyes with his son as he was led back to protective custody.
The emotion of seeing his father proved too much for the son who muttered "f**k" loudly.
Visibly upset, his son known as Keefe Junior, raced out of the courtroom.
HIGH PROFILE AS OJ
A status update hearing on the case will be on January 9, 2024.
It’s expected the trial could last “a few months”. Many legal sources expect the case to be as high profile as OJ Simpson’s 2008 trial and conviction for armed robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas.
Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said he is confident in winning the case.
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Wolfson said: “I have two excellent prosecutors assigned to this case... The fact that the world is watching really doesn't matter.
"What we care about is presenting the evidence to a jury so that the jury can make the ultimate decision.”
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