...Sister Sekyiwa recalls painful family loss in emotional court statement as Duane Davis receives sentence
The family of late American rap legend Tupac Shakur has relived the pain of his death following the sentencing of Duane “Keffe D” Davis to 40 years to life in prison after his first-degree murder conviction in August.
Tupac’s sister, Sekyiwa Shakur, and brother, Maurice, were present in court as prosecutors presented their sentencing arguments before Judge Carli Kierny delivered the sentence.
In an emotional statement, Sekyiwa described the devastating impact of her brother’s death on their family, revealing that the loss had left deep emotional and psychological wounds.
“The loss of Tupac for a long time crippled my entire family emotionally, mentally,” she said.
Recalling the personal memories that continue to make her miss her brother, she added: “I miss my brother. I do. I miss his skin. I miss his scars on his head. He had a strawberry on his chest. I miss the way he ate. Miss his recipe for chicken. Miss his laugh.”
Her heartfelt words offered a deeply personal glimpse into the lasting grief experienced by Tupac’s family decades after the celebrated rapper was killed.
The sentencing took place on October 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. Davis was convicted of orchestrating the fatal shooting, although prosecutors did not identify him as the person who fired the shots.
He Talked About Tupac’s Murder For Years. A Judge Gave Him 40 Years To Life.
On September 7, 1996, around 11:15 p.m., officers responded to a drive-by shooting near Flamingo Road and Koval Lane in Las Vegas, Nevada. Upon arrival, officers found a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
The victim was identified as 25-year-old Tupac Amaru Shakur.
Earlier that night, Shakur attended the Mike Tyson and Bruce Seldon boxing match at the MGM Grand with Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight and others. After the fight, surveillance footage captured Shakur, Knight and members of their entourage attacking Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson inside the casino.
Anderson was the nephew of then-33-year-old Duane “Keffe D” Davis and was associated with the South Side Compton Crips. Prosecutors later argued the confrontation triggered a retaliation against Shakur and Knight.
Later that night, Shakur was riding in the passenger seat of a black BMW driven by Knight when a white Cadillac pulled alongside them near Flamingo Road and Koval Lane. Gunfire erupted from the Cadillac, striking Shakur four times. Knight was also wounded but survived.
Shakur was transported to a hospital, where he died from his injuries on September 13, 1996.
Investigators eventually identified Davis, Anderson, Deandrae “Freaky” Smith and Terry “Bubble Up” Brown as the four men inside the Cadillac. Davis was seated in the front passenger seat, Brown was driving, and Anderson and Smith were in the back seat.
All three men other than Davis died before anyone was prosecuted in Shakur’s killing.
For years, authorities suspected Anderson may have fired the shots, and Davis previously claimed his nephew was the gunman. However, other testimony later suggested Smith may have fired the weapon. The identity of the shooter was never conclusively established, and prosecutors did not have to prove which man pulled the trigger to prosecute Davis.
In 2008, Davis participated in a recorded interview with investigators and described being inside the Cadillac during the shooting. He admitted obtaining a firearm and passing it toward the back seat before Shakur was shot.
Davis later publicly discussed the killing during interviews, documentaries and in his 2019 memoir, “Compton Street Legend.” His statements about his involvement eventually became a major part of the evidence used against him.
On September 29, 2023, Davis was arrested after a grand jury indicted him in connection with Shakur’s murder. Prosecutors accused him of orchestrating the retaliation after Anderson was attacked at the MGM Grand.
According to prosecutors, Davis obtained the firearm, gathered the other men, went searching for Shakur and Knight, and authorized the shooting as the senior gang member inside the Cadillac.
Davis pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence. His attorneys argued that his previous statements were exaggerated or fabricated for attention and financial gain. The defense also emphasized that investigators never recovered the murder weapon and lacked forensic evidence directly placing Davis inside the Cadillac.
Davis further argued that statements he made during the 2008 interview were protected by an immunity agreement connected to a separate investigation. However, a judge allowed jurors to hear the recorded interview and consider statements Davis later made publicly about the killing.
On August 17, 2026, Davis went to trial in Clark County District Court. Prosecutors called 24 witnesses during nine days of testimony and presented evidence that included surveillance footage, recorded interviews, witness testimony and statements Davis made about his involvement in Shakur's murder.
Davis did not testify in his own defense.
On August 31, 2026, a 12-person jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding Davis guilty of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon.
The verdict marked the first conviction in Shakur’s killing nearly 30 years after the shooting.
On October 13, 2026, now-63-year-old Davis appeared before Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny for sentencing.
During the hearing, prosecutors maintained that Davis was responsible for organizing the retaliation and supplying the firearm used in Shakur's murder. Although Davis was not accused of personally firing the fatal shots, his involvement in planning and facilitating the killing made him criminally responsible under Nevada law.
When given an opportunity to address the court, Davis asked for the return of property investigators had seized during a 2023 search of his Henderson residence.
“I just want my stuff back that you took out of my house,” Davis told the judge.
When asked whether he had anything else to say, Davis replied, “I'm good. I'm gonna appeal this case, for sure.”
Before imposing the sentence, Judge Kierny addressed Davis's repeated assertions that he had changed his life since the killing and moved on from his former gang involvement.
The judge explained that changing his circumstances did not erase his responsibility for Shakur's death.
“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,” Kierny told Davis.
She also noted that although nearly 30 years had passed, Shakur's death had not been forgotten.
Judge Kierny sentenced Davis to 20 years to life in prison for first-degree murder and an additional consecutive sentence of 20 years to life for the use of a deadly weapon.
The combined sentence is 40 years to life in prison.
Davis received credit for 731 days already served in custody following his arrest in September 2023. Under the sentence, he will be eligible to seek parole after serving the required minimum term.
Davis and his attorney, Michael Sanft, confirmed plans to appeal the conviction.
Davis remains the only person ever prosecuted in connection with Shakur's murder.
— Illicit Deeds | Criminal Case Coverage
