Duane “Keffe D” Davis, a former gang leader, was sentenced Tuesday to 40 years to life in prison for orchestrating the 1996 drive-by shooting that killed rapper Tupac Shakur near the Las Vegas Strip. Davis, 63, was convicted in August of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon, bringing closure to a case that had remained unsolved for over two decades.

The shooting, which occurred on the night of September 7, 1996, targeted Shakur as he sat in the passenger seat of a black BMW driven by music executive Marion “Suge” Knight. A white Cadillac pulled alongside at a red light, and gunfire erupted. Shakur was struck multiple times and died six days later, while Knight survived. The attack was reportedly motivated by a longstanding gang feud in Los Angeles.

At sentencing, Judge Carli Kinery emphasized the profound loss felt by the rapper’s family and fans. “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,” she said. Even with credit for time served, Davis will not be eligible for parole until he is at least 100 years old.

Davis, a former leader of the South Side Compton Crips, became the first person charged in connection with Shakur’s murder after years of remaining silent. His conviction hinged largely on his own admissions in interviews and a 2019 memoir, in which he detailed his role in the shooting. Davis claimed he was seeking retaliation after Shakur and his entourage assaulted his nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, earlier that evening. According to Davis, Anderson was the shooter, though Anderson and two other men allegedly involved in the Cadillac have since died.

During the court proceedings, prosecutors relied heavily on Davis’ statements to law enforcement and documentarians. His defense attorney argued that no physical evidence linked Davis directly to the crime and alleged that Davis fabricated his story to profit from his notoriety. After a nine-day trial, the jury deliberated for three hours before delivering the guilty verdict.

Shakur’s family expressed deep sorrow at the sentencing. His sister, Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, described the pain of hearing Davis recount the events of that night. She said Tupac was gentle and protective and might have pursued activism or politics had he survived. His brother, Maurice “Mopreme” Shakur, called the loss devastating for the family and the wider community of fans.

In his brief court statement, Davis requested the return of personal items seized by police but declined to further comment on the case. His attorney confirmed plans to appeal the conviction.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson indicated that prosecutors currently lack sufficient evidence to charge others. Among those alleged to have been involved, including Davis’ nephew Orlando Anderson, has died. Davis also claimed in his memoir that music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs offered him money to kill Shakur and Knight, an allegation Combs has repeatedly denied. Wolfson noted his office remains open to pursuing additional charges if new evidence emerges.