Defense rests its case in Tupac murder trial

Closings arguments are set to begin Monday morning.LAS VEGAS (CN) — The Las Vegas homicide detective investigating the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur was in Compton, California, by chance as Deandre “Dre” Smith walked through a nearby field.Detective Dan Long testified Thursday in the case against Duane Davis that other officers had given him a tour of the city. He saw the car wash where Orlando Anderson — Davis’ nephew, who witnesses have said was attacked hours before Shakur was shot — died from gunshot wounds. Prosecutors have said that gang-related attack led to Shakur’s shooting hours later.Officers also pointed to homes affiliated with the Crips gang. Then someone spotted Smith, who witnesses have said was in a white Cadillac with Davis, Anderson and another man on Sept. 7, 1996. Authorities have said someone in that vehicle fired the shots that, six days later, would take Shakur’s life.In 2004, investigating the fatal shooting, Long figured he’d try to talk to Smith.“He said, ‘F you and F off,’” Long said. Outside of his jurisdiction and with no cause to stop Smith, Long waved goodbye. Smith died later that year. Prosecutors say Davis, 63, is the only person still living who was in the Cadillac that night.Long was one of three former Las Vegas officers called Thursday by the defense to testify. Defense attorney Michael Sanft rested his case that afternoon. Closing arguments in the case are expected Monday morning.Long’s interaction with Smith proved to be one of many investigative dead ends Long would encounter during his investigation into Shakur’s death.The former detective said he traveled to Los Angeles many times over the years.Los Angeles authorities recovered a gun buried in a backyard they thought might be the weapon used to shoot Shakur. Long said he brought the gun to Las Vegas for ballistics testing, though no match was made.“There were thousands of guns that were tested,” he added.He also followed up on anonymous tips, at one point walking along a highway shoulder years after someone supposedly discarded the murder weapon. It’s never been found.In 2009, Long again traveled to Los Angeles to speak with someone he was told had information about Shakur and the shooting — Davis. He’d been told authorities had caught Davis with narcotics, and Davis wanted to exchange information about Shakur for a lesser sentence.At the time, Long didn’t know Davis had spoken years earlier with authorities. In earlier conversations, Davis had provided a proffer — information about the shooting with the understanding he’d face no charges.Long said he intended to return to Las Vegas after speaking to Davis, drawing up a warrant and arresting Davis for the murder of Shakur. He gave his information to the District Attorney’s Office and waited for their reply.“And they told me they were not going to go forward with prosecution at that time,” Long said. He gave no specifics about why they made that decision. Long added that he didn’t know why Davis had his attorney in the interview room.Defense attorney Michael Sanft asked Long whether he verified or confirmed Davis was, in fact, inside the white Cadillac the night someone shot Shakur.“By Mr. Davis telling me he was in the white Cadillac the night of the murder,” Long said.Sanft has argued prosecutors wouldn’t be able to prove his client was in Las Vegas that night and that his client embellished stories. Prosecutors have used Davis’ own words against him, as he’s placed himself in the white Cadillac the night of Shakur’s shooting in conversations with law enforcement, documentarians and his own book, “Compton Street Legend.”Sanft also called two former police officers tasked to patrol the area of Marion “Suge” Knight’s home on Sept. 7, 1996. Knight, the former CEO of Death Row Records, was known to have parties after a Mike Tyson fight, which occurred that night at the MGM Grand.One of them said he saw Knight and Shakur arrive with a handful of other vehicles around 10:15 p.m. They left the home about 30 minutes later.The shooting happened shortly after 11 p.m.Categories / Arts, Criminal, MediaSubscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads