NewzDuane “Keffe D” Davis was sentenced Tuesday to 40 years to life in prison for orchestrating the murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur who was gunned down off the Las Vegas Strip over 30 years ago. The former Compton gang leader was convicted in August after jurors took three hours to reach a verdict in the 30-year-old homicide Duane “Keffe D” Davis has received his sentence for orchestrating the murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur more than 30 years ago.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Duane “Keffe D” Davis was sentenced Tuesday to 40 years to life in prison for orchestrating the murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur who was gunned down off the Las Vegas Strip over 30 years ago.Davis, 63, was convicted in August of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon. He is the only person ever charged in the death of Shakur, whose popularity was peaking at age 25.Prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo said Tuesday that whatever sentence the court imposes, Davis is “guaranteed to die” behind bars.“It’s not just about losing a family member,” DiGiacomo said as Shakur’s sister Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur nods her head in the audience.The killing went unsolved for years until Davis, a former leader of the South Side Compton Crips, gave interviews and published his role in the shooting in his 2019 tell-all memoir.DiGiacomo said Davis was trying to profit off a killing that he committed, and for that he does not deserve the minimum sentence.“In my mind he deserves the maximum possible sentence,” DiGiacomo said.Davis spoke briefly in court, telling Judge Carli Kierny he wants items back that police took from his house, including his pictures. Asked if there was anything else he wanted to say, Davis said: “No I’m good."Davis' lawyer, Michael Sanft said he plans to appeal the verdict.
Sanft said prosecutors waited too long to bring the case.On the night of Sept. 7, 1996, Shakur was in the passenger seat of a black BMW with music mogul Marion “Suge” Knight when a white Cadillac pulled up at a red light, and shots erupted. Shakur was shot multiple times and died six days later, while Knight survived.Shakur is considered one of the most influential and versatile rappers of all time and had a burgeoning film career as an actor at the time of his death.
His songs still resonate among fans with themes of hardship, love and Black struggles.In his memoir, Davis explained how Shakur and his entourage beat up Davis' nephew hours before the shooting in Las Vegas. He said he sought retaliation, and that he was in the passenger seat of the Cadillac and passed the gun to the backseat, where shots were fired. Davis had spoken to detectives years before but avoided prosecution because of an agreement he made with law enforcement.During the weekslong trial, prosecutors relied on Davis' own statements he made to law enforcement and documenta…
He is the only person ever charged in Shakur’s death. Shakur was struck in a drive-by shooting off the Las Vegas Strip in September 1996. He died days later at age 25 as his popularity was peaking.At Davis’ age, he’s likely to spend the rest of his life behind bars.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE.
AP’s earlier story follows below.Duane “Keffe D” Davis is set to be sentenced Tuesday for orchestrating the murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur, who was gunned down off the Las Vegas Strip over 30 years ago.Davis, 63, was convicted in August of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon. Davis faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.Prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo says whatever sentence the court imposes, Davis is “guaranteed to die” behind bars.“It’s not just about losing a family member,” DiGiacomo said as Shakur’s sister Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur nods her head in the audience.The killing went unsolved for years until Davis, a former leader of the South Side Compton Crips, gave interviews and published his role in the shooting in his 2019 tell-all memoir.DiGiacomo said Davis was trying to profit off a killing that he committed, and for that he does not deserve the minimum sentence.“In my mind he deserves the maximum possible sentence,” DiGiacomo said.Davis spoke briefly in court, telling Judge Carli Kierny he wants items back that police took from his house, including his pictures. Duane “Keffe D” Davis has been sentenced to 40 years to life after being found guilty of orchestrating the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur.
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