Duane “Keffe D” Davis has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for his role in the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur, nearly three decades after the hip-hop icon was fatally shot in Las Vegas.
Davis received 20 years to life on one count and an additional 20 years to life on another count in connection with the killing. He was convicted of first-degree murder in August after prosecutors argued that he orchestrated the drive-by shooting that killed Shakur.
The case stems from the shooting on Sept. 7, 1996, when Shakur was riding in a BMW driven by Death Row Records founder Marion “Suge” Knight. A white Cadillac pulled alongside their vehicle near the Las Vegas Strip, and gunfire erupted. Shakur was struck multiple times and died six days later at age 25. Knight survived the shooting.
Investigators spent years pursuing leads before Davis was arrested in 2023. Prosecutors argued that he helped organize the attack following an earlier confrontation involving his nephew, Orlando Anderson, and members of Shakur’s entourage.
The prosecution relied heavily on Davis’ past statements, including interviews and a memoir in which he discussed his alleged involvement in the events surrounding the shooting. Prosecutors argued that his accounts helped establish his role in planning the attack and providing the weapon used in the killing.
Davis’ defense team challenged the prosecution’s case, arguing that his previous statements were unreliable and that authorities lacked physical evidence directly linking him to the murder.
Davis has maintained his innocence and claimed he was nowhere near the scene when Shakur was shot. His attorneys have argued that his past statements were made while trying to profit from the rapper’s death.
Shakur’s family has continued to seek accountability for the killing. His sister, Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, spoke during court proceedings following the conviction and became emotional while describing the lasting impact of her brother’s death on their family. She said the men in her family had never been the same since he was killed.
Shakur remains one of hip-hop’s most influential artists, known for songs addressing poverty, racism, violence and life in disadvantaged communities. His death at the height of his career became one of the most enduring mysteries in music history.
Davis is the only person to have been convicted in connection with Shakur’s murder. Davis has indicated that he intends to appeal his conviction.