LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Duane “Keffe D” Davis made a brief appearance in court on Thursday in connection with the 1996 killing of iconic rapper Tupac Shakur. Represented by prominent local defense attorney Ross Goodman, Davis’s hearing sought an official confirmation for Goodman as his attorney. District Judge Tierra Jones granted a two-week delay for the case to move forward.

Davis, a reputed member of the South Sides Crips gang, has been accused by prosecutors of orchestrating Shakur’s fatal shooting as part of an ongoing feud between the Crips and a Compton gang associated with the Bloods. During the hearing, Davis did not speak but entered the court in handcuffs and a Clark County Detention Center uniform, facing reporters.

Previously, Davis asked for his arraignment to be postponed due to the absence of his longtime lawyer, Edi Faal. However, Las Vegas attorney Ross Goodman stepped in to defend Davis on Thursday.

Prosecutors officially charged Davis with murder with a deadly weapon and with the intent to promote, further, or assist a criminal gang. For years, Davis has been linked to Shakur’s killing and has made public statements about his involvement, including in his co-written book, “Compton Street Legend.” In the book, he claimed to have been in the car with the shooter during the incident.

Davis is accused of being the “on-ground, on-sight commander” responsible for planning the shooting to avenge Shakur and Death Row Records CEO Marion “Suge” Knight for their involvement in a fight earlier that night at the MGM Grand. Detective Cliff Mogg, in charge of the renewed investigation, testified that he believed Shakur’s killing was connected to the unsolved murder of fellow rapper Christopher “Biggie” Wallace, but not by the same individuals.

The rivalry between Death Row Records and Bad Boy Records, led by Sean “Diddy” Combs, came up during the court proceedings. Knight had connections with the Bloods-associated Mob Piru group, while Bad Boy Records was associated with the Crips. This information raises questions about the motive behind the shooting.

Shakur was fatally injured while riding in a car with Knight when someone in a white Cadillac opened fire. Prosecutors allege that Davis is the sole surviving person from the four individuals believed to have been present in the Cadillac.

As the case unfolds, Davis remains in the Clark County Detention Center without bail.