Duane 'Keffe D' Davis sentenced to 40 years to life for arranging murder of Tupac Shakur

Duane "Keffe D" Davis was sentenced on Tuesday to 40 years to life for arranging the murder of Tupac Shakur, who was shot in a drive-by shooting on Sept. 7, 1996. 

In August 2026, Davis, 63, was convicted of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon. The Associated Press reported that Davis is the only person ever charged in the death of Shakur. Davis faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

RELATED: Tupac Shakur murder: Duane 'Keffe D' Davis found guilty in 1996 drive-by shooting of rapper

During the weekslong trial, prosecutors relied on Davis’ own statements he made to police and documentarians. 

Duane "Keffe D" Davis trial 

Dig deeper:

According to the AP, prosecutors argued Duane "Keffe D" Davis orchestrated the shooting and provided the gun used in Shakur's death, which was the result of a rivalry between the South Side Compton Crips and Mob Piru. 

Davis' defense attorney referenced a lack of physical evidence that linked his client to the crime, and he portrayed Davis as a liar who was attempting to make money.

RELATED: Duane 'Keffe D' Davis, suspect in Tupac's murder, claims police search was unlawful

Following nine days of hearing testimony in August, the jury deliberated for three hours before turning over the guilty verdict. The AP noted that Davis said in court that he plans to appeal.

Davis is the only person to be charged and convicted in the killing of Tupac Shakur. The three other people who allegedly were in the Cadillac — including Davis' nephew Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson who Davis said was the one who pulled the trigger — have died.

The AP reported that Sean "Diddy" Combs and his alleged role in Shakur’s murder were mentioned often throughout the trial. Witnesses testified Combs used members of the South Side Compton Crips for security for Bad Boy Records.

In his book and public statements, Davis accused Combs of offering him money to murder Shakur and Marion "Suge" Knight, the former Death Row Records rap mogul. Combs, who is serving a four-year prison sentence after being convicted of prostitution-related crimes, has denied any involvement in the death of the rapper. 

Tupac Shakur 1996 murder

The backstory:

Marion "Suge" Knight was with Tupac Shakur when he was gunned down in the drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas Strip on Sept. 7, 1996.

Shakur and Knight just watched Mike Tyson defeat Bruce Seldon in a boxing match and were traveling to a nightclub where Shakur was scheduled to perform. 

RELATED: Tupac Shakur murder suspect files appeal with Nevada Supreme Court to dismiss charges

Shakur was in the passenger seat of a black BMW with 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.

The rapper’s murder went unsolved for years until Duane "Keffe D" Davis, an ex-leader of the South Side Compton Crips, gave interviews and published his role in the shooting in his 2019 tell-all memoir. 

Davis explained how Shakur and his entourage beat up Davis' nephew hours before the shooting in Las Vegas. He said he wanted to retaliate, and that he was in the passenger seat of the Cadillac and passed the gun to the backseat, where shots were fired. Davis spoke to detectives years before but avoided prosecution because of an agreement he made with police, according to The Associated Press. 

Shakur's legendary rap career was highlighted by over 75 million records worldwide with hits including "California Love," "Changes" and "Dear Mama."