The Las Vegas legal community is mourning the death of defence attorney Michael Sanft, who represented Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis in the high-profile murder case involving legendary rapper Tupac Shakur.
- Tupac Murder Lawyer Dies as Appeal Is Filed
- How Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis Became the Only Person Charged
- Prosecutors Relied on Davis’s Own Statements
- Prosecutor Describes Sanft as One of Las Vegas’s Best Lawyers
- Sanft’s Career Extended Beyond the Tupac Murder Case
- Cause of Michael Sanft’s Death Still Pending
Sanft, 55, was reportedly discovered dead at his home on Friday morning, just days after a notice of appeal was filed against Davis’s conviction for his role in the 1996 killing of the hip-hop star.
The attorney had represented Davis throughout the closely watched criminal proceedings, taking on the case without payment. His death comes as the convicted killer prepares to challenge a sentence of 40 years to life in prison.
According to reports citing the Clark County Coroner’s Office, the cause and manner of Sanft’s death remain undetermined. Police have reportedly indicated that the circumstances do not appear suspicious.
Tupac Murder Lawyer Dies as Appeal Is Filed
Davis, 63, was sentenced on 13 October after being found guilty of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon in connection with Shakur’s death.
A notice of appeal was filed on Friday, 30 October 2026, according to FOX5 Las Vegas.
Sanft had previously expressed disappointment with the jury’s decision but remained aware that the verdict might not mark the end of the legal battle.
Recalling a conversation with Davis after the conviction, Sanft said his client had reminded him that the case was only entering its first phase.
“He had reminded me this is phase one,” Sanft said.
The attorney also recalled telling Davis that he hated losing, to which the convicted man reportedly responded: “Don’t worry about it, man.”
Sanft had previously reflected on his defence strategy, saying: “I don’t see what I could’ve done differently.”
How Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis Became the Only Person Charged
Tupac Shakur was shot on the night of 7 September 1996 while travelling in a black BMW with music executive Marion ‘Suge’ Knight in Las Vegas.
A white Cadillac pulled alongside the vehicle at a traffic light before shots were fired.
Shakur suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died six days later.
For years, the killing remained one of the most notorious unsolved cases in American music history.
Davis eventually became the only person to be charged in connection with the rapper’s death.
His arrest followed interviews and the publication of his 2019 memoir, in which he described his alleged involvement in the shooting.
In the memoir, Davis claimed the attack was motivated by revenge after Shakur and members of his entourage allegedly assaulted his nephew, Orlando Anderson, earlier that evening.
Davis said he was sitting in the passenger seat of the Cadillac and passed a firearm to someone in the back of the vehicle before the shooting.
He had previously spoken to detectives but avoided prosecution for years following an agreement with authorities.
Prosecutors Relied on Davis’s Own Statements
During the trial, prosecutors relied heavily on Davis’s previous statements when presenting their case.
Sanft challenged the reliability of those accounts, arguing that Davis had lied and that the prosecution’s case depended on statements that should not be trusted.
After nine days of testimony in August, the jury reportedly deliberated for approximately three hours before finding Davis guilty.
The conviction brought a major development in the investigation into Shakur’s murder, although the planned appeal means the legal proceedings are continuing.
Prosecutor Describes Sanft as One of Las Vegas’s Best Lawyers
Sanft’s death has prompted tributes from colleagues and members of the legal community, including prosecutors who had opposed him in court.
Marc DiGiacomo, one of the prosecutors involved in the Tupac murder case, described Sanft as one of the leading defence attorneys in Las Vegas.
“Las Vegas lost a good lawyer and more importantly to me, I lost a friend,” DiGiacomo said, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Clark County District Court marshal Michael Sloan, who described himself as one of Sanft’s closest friends, also paid tribute to the attorney.
Sloan remembered him as one of the best human beings he had known.
Another Las Vegas lawyer, Mike Troiano, described Sanft as an exceptionally talented trial attorney who was respected by jurors and fellow legal professionals.
“I’m in total shock by this news, as is the legal community as a whole,” Troiano said, according to KSNV.
Sanft’s Career Extended Beyond the Tupac Murder Case
According to his published biography, Sanft was raised on the South Pacific island of Tonga before moving to San Diego, California, at the age of 12.
He went on to build a career in criminal defence and had reportedly taken more than 150 cases to jury verdict before his death.
One of his other prominent clients was former Las Vegas City Councilwoman Michele Fiore.
Sanft represented Fiore after she was accused of misusing approximately US$70,000 intended to fund a statue honouring a deceased police officer.
The money was allegedly diverted towards personal expenses, including cosmetic surgery.
Fiore was convicted of federal wire fraud in October 2024 but received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump in April 2025, before sentencing.
She also expressed sadness over Sanft’s death, telling the Review-Journal that the community had lost a caring and exceptional attorney.
Cause of Michael Sanft’s Death Still Pending
Despite the tributes, important questions surrounding Sanft’s death remain unanswered.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office has reportedly confirmed that the cause and manner of death are pending.
A police spokesperson also indicated that the death did not appear suspicious, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The Daily Mail reported that it had contacted the coroner’s office for further comment.
Sanft’s death comes at a critical point in the legal proceedings against Davis, whose appeal could reopen arguments surrounding the evidence and circumstances that led to his conviction.
For now, the Las Vegas legal community is remembering a respected trial lawyer whose career placed him at the centre of several high-profile cases.
