Former gang leader Duane “Keffe D” Davis has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for his role in the 1996 drive-by shooting that claimed the life of legendary hip-hop star Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas.
Davis, 63, was convicted of first-degree murder in August and received his sentence on Tuesday, October 13, during a hearing at a Las Vegas courtroom.
In delivering the sentence, Judge Carli Kierny emphasised the seriousness of the crime and the impact Tupac’s death had on his family.
“You don’t get to take a man from his family,” the judge told Davis. She also acknowledged the lengthy period it took for the case to reach a conclusion, stressing that Davis had taken away Tupac’s life and future.
The prosecution had asked the court to impose the maximum possible sentence, arguing that Davis deserved severe punishment for his role in the killing.
Prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo accused Davis of attempting to profit from the killing and argued that his conduct warranted the maximum sentence available under the law.
“He deserves the maximum possible sentence because he’s earned it through his actions, his behavior, and who he is as he stands here today,” DiGiacomo told the court.
Davis’ defence attorney, Michael Sanft, had requested a 40-year prison sentence. He also disclosed that the defence intends to appeal Davis’ conviction.
Before the sentence was handed down, Tupac’s sister, Sekyiwa Shakur, and brother, Maurice, addressed the court and spoke about the devastating effect of the rapper’s death on their family.
Sekyiwa described the loss of her brother as emotionally and mentally crippling for the family, revealing that she had experienced serious struggles with depression, suicidal thoughts and trauma following his death.
She also spoke emotionally about missing the personal details that made Tupac her brother, including his appearance, laugh, eating habits and favourite chicken recipe.
“I miss my brother. I do,” she said, reflecting on the lasting pain caused by his death.
Tupac Shakur was shot in a drive-by attack in Las Vegas in September 1996 and died several days later at the age of 25. His death remained one of the most prominent unsolved cases in hip-hop history for decades before Davis was arrested and eventually convicted.
The sentence now marks a major development in the long-running case, more than three decades after the death of the influential rapper.
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