Duane "Keffe D" Davis to be sentenced for orchestrating Tupac Shakur's 1996 murder

Duane “Keffe D” Davis, 63, will be sentenced Tuesday for his role in the 1996 murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur. Davis was found guilty in August of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, becoming the only person ever charged in the case. He faces life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

The shooting occurred on Sept. 7, 1996, when Shakur, riding in a black BMW with music executive Marion “Suge” Knight, was struck by gunfire from a white Cadillac that stopped at a red light. Shakur died six days later, while Knight survived.

During the trial, prosecutors relied on statements Davis made to law-enforcement and documentary crews, arguing he organized the attack and supplied the firearm used. The motive was presented as retaliation after Shakur’s entourage assaulted Davis’s nephew earlier that night. Davis’s defense highlighted the lack of physical evidence linking him directly to the crime and portrayed him as a self-servicing liar.

After nine days of testimony, a jury deliberated for three hours before delivering a guilty verdict. In court, Davis said he intends to appeal. Members of Shakur’s family, including siblings Maurice “Mopreme” Shakur and Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, are expected to speak at sentencing.

Prosecutor Binu Palal said the verdict reflects the impact of Shakur’s legacy on fans and the pain endured by his family, noting that the family endured years of Davis “bragging about killing someone they loved.”

District Attorney Steve Wolfson said the office does not currently have sufficient evidence to charge any additional individuals, but indicated that new information could lead to further action.