Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the former gang leader convicted of orchestrating the 1996 murder of American rapper Tupac Shakur, has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison, more than three decades after the killing.
Davis, 63, received the sentence on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in a Las Vegas court after being found guilty of first-degree murder in August. He is the only person to have been charged and convicted in connection with Shakur’s death.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Carli Kierny said Davis could not escape responsibility for taking the rapper’s life and depriving his family of their loved one.
Shakur’s sister, Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, also addressed the court, describing the lasting emotional impact of her brother’s death on the family. His brother, Mopreme Shakur, also spoke about the loss.
The rapper was shot on September 7, 1996, while travelling in a black BMW with music executive Marion “Suge” Knight after attending a boxing match in Las Vegas. He died six days later at the age of 25.
Prosecutors argued that Davis organised the shooting in retaliation for an earlier confrontation involving Shakur’s entourage and Davis’ nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, at the MGM Grand casino.
Although Davis was not accused of firing the fatal shots himself, prosecutors said he supplied the weapon and helped coordinate the attack. Evidence included his public statements, interviews and 2019 memoir, Compton Street Legend.
Davis’ defence team challenged the prosecution’s case, arguing that his accounts were unreliable and that physical evidence linking him to the killing was lacking.
His lawyer has said he intends to appeal the conviction.
