Duane “Keffe D” Davis, a former Los Angeles gang leader who spent years claiming he was involved in the killing of rapper Tupac Shakur before denying it at trial, has been sentenced to at least 40 years in prison.
The 63-year-old received the sentence on Tuesday in a Las Vegas courtroom, nearly three decades after Shakur was shot dead. Davis once led a branch of the Crips gang and later wrote in his memoir that he had ordered the killing.
Judge Carli Kierny reminded him of his past statements before handing down the sentence.
“For three years, I’ve heard you say some variation of the same thing to law enforcement… in your book, and it’s something like, ‘Yeah, I was involved in this, but I’m different. I’ve moved on. I got out of Compton. I’m a grandfather now,’” she said.
“I’m here to tell you that’s not how this works.”
“You don’t get to take a man from his family. You don’t get to take his very life, his whole future from him, and just walk away from it. Especially when that man is Tupac Shakur,” the judge added.
During the trial, prosecutors said Davis ordered Shakur’s September 7, 1996, killing after his nephew was beaten by members of the rapper’s entourage at a Las Vegas casino.
About two hours later, a gunman in a white Cadillac shot Shakur as he rode in a BMW. Davis allegedly handed a gun to someone in the Cadillac’s back seat and ordered the person to fire. Shakur died six days later.
The shooter’s identity remains unknown. Davis is the only surviving occupant of the Cadillac. Marion “Suge” Knight, who drove the BMW, was wounded.
Shakur, also known as 2Pac, was 25 and a major figure in the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop rivalry.
His sister, Sekyiwa Shakur, paid tribute to him, saying he “was born an icon.” She recalled his kindness, protective nature and dedication to his people.
Davis expressed no remorse before sentencing and vowed to appeal his conviction.
