Former gang leader sentenced to 40 years to life for 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur

Duane "Keffe D" Davis, the former leader of the South Side Compton Crips, has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for first-degree murder with a deadly weapon in the 1996 drive-by shooting that killed rapper Tupac Shakur. The sentence was handed down Tuesday in Las Vegas, Nevada, closing a 30-year cold case that shook the golden age of American rap music.

Davis, 63, is the only person ever prosecuted in the death of Shakur, who died at 25 at the peak of his career. Judge Carli Kierny delivered the sentence at a hearing and condemned Davis's actions.

"You are not allowed to take a person from their family, you are not allowed to take a life, take their future, and walk away scot-free, especially when that person is Tupac Shakur," Judge Kierny said. "The world has never forgotten him and his death, and neither has Las Vegas."

During the trial, prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo said that no matter what sentence the court imposed, Davis was "certain to die" behind bars.

For nearly three decades, Shakur's death remained one of the music industry's most famous unsolved mysteries, fueling endless debate over the killer and the motive. Davis had long been a suspect, but investigators lacked the evidence to charge him.

The investigative deadlock broke after Davis publicly boasted about his role in media interviews. He also recounted his role in the killing in his 2019 memoir, Compton Street Legend.

Davis had previously signed a 2008 proffer agreement with federal law enforcement, granting him limited immunity for statements made privately to investigators. However, according to prosecutors, Davis repeating those statements outside his meetings with investigators voided the agreement's protections.

DiGiacomo argued that Davis tried to profit from a murder he committed, and therefore deserved the maximum possible sentence.

On the night of Sept. 7, 1996, Shakur was in Las Vegas to attend Mike Tyson's heavyweight boxing match when he was shot. Investigators said the shooting occurred about two hours after a scuffle between Orlando Anderson, Davis's nephew, and Shakur's entourage.

In his memoir, Davis accused Shakur and his friends of assaulting his nephew. He explained that he later sought revenge, admitting he handed a gun to two accomplices in the back seat of a white Cadillac, who then fired the fatal shots.

When he was shot, Shakur was sitting in the passenger seat of a black BMW stopped at a red light. He died six days later. Davis is the only surviving person who was in the Cadillac that night.

Shakur's family members spoke at the sentencing hearing, including the rapper's brothers Maurice "Mopreme" Shakur and Sekyiwa "Set" Shakur. Sekyiwa Shakur told the court, "This man's life mattered," while her brother called the killing "devastating, heartbreaking and sad."

After the verdict, Assistant District Attorney Binu Palal said Shakur's family had endured years of hearing Davis "bragging about killing the man they loved." "They loved that man. And Mr. Davis's arrogance in expressing joy at killing him ultimately destroyed him," Palal said.

On Tuesday, the former gang leader gave a brief statement to the court, asking the judge to order the return of property seized from his home, including personal photos. Asked if he wanted to say anything more, Davis declined, saying "No, I'm fine," and said he would definitely "appeal this case."