A resurfaced 2009 police interview with Duane “Keefe D” Davis — the man currently facing murder charges in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur — has reignited explosive claims that Sean “Diddy” Combs may have played a role in ordering the hit. But despite the sensational allegations, Las Vegas police insist Combs has never been considered a suspect in the decades-long investigation.
The 2009 Confession That Stayed Buried — Until 2024
In a 2009 recorded police interview — details of which were only released publicly in July 2024 — Keefe D allegedly admitted involvement in Shakur’s fatal shooting in Las Vegas, but shifted partial blame to Diddy, claiming the Bad Boy Records mogul had put out a $1 million bounty to eliminate both Tupac Shakur and Suge Knight.
Detective Dan Long directly asked Davis if Combs played a role in orchestrating the murder. Davis replied:
“Yeah, I think he did. That’s what we think. That’s word on the street.”
He went on to claim that Combs had once openly declared:
“Man, I would give anything for that dude’s head,”
— referring to Suge Knight — adding that Combs appeared “terrified” of the Death Row CEO.
“He Said It” — Davis Repeats Allegation of $1M Offer
In the same interview and in previous statements from 2008, Davis alleged that Combs had told him:
“I need to get rid of Knight and Shakur”
— and offered him $1 million to ‘handle the problem’, claims reportedly documented in DEA and DOJ reports.
Suge Knight, who was driving the BMW with Tupac in the passenger seat the night of the shooting, also hinted publicly at Combs’ involvement, saying:
“Everybody knows where a million dollars came from… if it smells like s—, looks like s—, it’s s—.”
Diddy Denies All Allegations
Despite Keefe D’s claims, Sean “Diddy” Combs has consistently denied any involvement in the killing of Tupac Shakur.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed in a 2024 statement:
“Sean Combs has never been considered a suspect in the Tupac Shakur homicide investigation.”
To date, Combs has not been charged or officially named in connection to the 1996 drive-by shooting.
He is, however, currently facing a separate federal trial in New York for alleged sex trafficking, racketeering, and prostitution-related charges — an entirely different legal matter.
Suge Knight: “A Part of Me Died When Pac Died”
Meanwhile, Suge Knight, now serving time for a separate case, opened up emotionally about the death of Tupac, calling the rapper his “favorite person in the world.”
“It was a part of me that changed my life forever. He didn’t have to die. A part of me died when he died,” Knight said.
What’s Next?
As Keefe D awaits trial after being charged in 2023 with Shakur’s murder — nearly three decades after the shooting — his allegations have only added to the tangled web of East Coast–West Coast rivalries, gang ties, and unresolved questions surrounding Tupac’s death.
Whether any of these claims lead to further legal fallout for Diddy remains to be seen, but for now, the official stance from law enforcement is clear: Sean Combs is not a suspect.
Source: OK! Magazine, LVMPD reports, DOJ documentation.
