Duane “Keffe D” Davis was sentenced Tuesday, October 13, 2026, after being found guilty of orchestrating the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur in 1996. Davis received 40 years to life in a Nevada prison and received no sympathy from his peers in court.
Tupac Shakur’s Killer Sentenced
A Clark County jury convicted Davis, 63, of murder with the use of a deadly weapon on August 31, for the deadly drive-by shooting in Las Vegas that claimed the life of an upcoming rapper, who was just reaching the height of his career.
Before Judge Carli Kierny handed down Davis’ sentence, she spoke directly to him. “You don’t get to take a man from his family, you don’t get to take his very life, his whole future from him, and just walk away from it. Especially when that man is Tupac Shakur,” Kierny said.
She added that the “world never forgot about him and his death” and that he would face justice for the crime he committed.
Davis also disagreed with the judge over his time served, and he was seen rolling his eyes as the judge shut down his concerns. “My position? That’s true,” he said when discussing his time served.
“I understand that that’s your version; however, the law says I cannot credit that towards your sentence,” Kierney responded.
Victim’s Family Encourages Life in Prison
Tupac’s family appeared in court to watch their lost loved one receive justice. His sister, Sekyiwa Shakur, and brother, Maurice Shakur, asked the judge to impose the maximum punishment on Davis, saying their brother’s death was beyond devastating.
“The impact from my brother’s murder has been devastating, heartbreaking, and sad, for me, my family, and the nation of Pac’s fans and loved ones,” Maurice said.
“I do believe when you take a life like that, you deserve every minute, every minute, of the maximum amount of punishment, time to sit down and contemplate what you’ve done to this world,” Sekyiwa said, holding back tears.
She added that her brother was a “father figure” to her and shared memories of him that will stay with her forever. “He had so much promise, intentions for a better world for our people; he had plans and manifestos,” she told the court. “He’s so much more than street violence.”
Drive-By Shooting
Throughout the trial, prosecutors alleged that the shooting of Tupac Shakur was in retaliation for a separate altercation where Davis’ nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, was attacked after a Mike Tyson fight on September 7, 1996.
Tupac was rising to fame as a rapper with Death Row Records, a music company whose CEO, Marion “Suge” Knight, was tied to the Bloods gang. Davis was considered the shot caller for the South Side Compton Crips, and prosecutors argued that the shooting of Tupac would not have happened without his say-so.
Tupac was shot in the drive-by and died six days later due to his injuries. Knight was in the driver’s seat and was also wounded during the altercation. The case had gone cold, with no one coming forward, until September 2023, when Davis was arrested.
Davis’ Own Words Used Against Him
Davis published a memoir, ‘Compton Street Legend’, in 2019, where he made various statements and, some say, admissions to the murder of Tupac. Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal pointed to the memoir and how Davis admitted to his involvement in his own words.
However, Davis’ defense attorney, Michael Sanft, called his client a liar. He said that the words in the memoir cannot be read as truth, and that Davis was a storyteller. “He was never charged for any of what he said during that time period, and it’s because they knew he was full of crap,” Sanft said in court. “Otherwise they would have.”
Sanft has already announced his intention to appeal Davis’ conviction.
