LAS VEGAS — Duane “Keffe D” Davis is set to be sentenced Tuesday for orchestrating the murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur , who was gunned down off the Las Vegas Strip over 30 years ago.
Because of an agreement he made with law enforcement, davis had spoken to detectives years before but avoided prosecution. Davis spoke briefly in court, telling Judge Carli Kierny he wants items back that police took from his house, including his pictures. On the night of Sept. Shakur was shot multiple times and died six days later, while Knight survived. Shakur is considered one of the most influential and versatile rappers of all time and had a burgeoning film career as an actor at the time of his death. His legend has only grown since. His songs still resonate among fans with themes of hardship, love and Black struggles.
“It’s not just about losing a family member,” DiGiacomo said as Shakur’s sister Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur nods her head in the audience. DiGiacomo said Davis was trying to profit off a killing that he committed, and for that he does not deserve the minimum sentence. “In my mind he deserves the maximum possible sentence,” DiGiacomo said. Asked if there was anything else he wanted to say, Davis said: “No I’m good. Davis’ lawyer, Michael Sanft said he plans to appeal the verdict. Sanft said prosecutors waited too long to bring the case. 7, 1996, Shakur was in the passenger seat of a black BMW with music mogul Marion “Suge” Knight when a white Cadillac pulled up at a red light, and shots erupted. He said he sought retaliation, and that he was in the passenger seat of the Cadillac and passed the gun to the backseat, where shots were fired.
In his memoir, Davis explained how Shakur and his entourage beat up Davis’ nephew hours before the shooting in Las Vegas.
