Defense attorney for Tupac Shakur killer Duane Davis found dead

Michael Sanft, a defense attorney who represented Duane Davis in the murder trial of rapper Tupac Shakur, was found dead in his Las Vegas home on the morning of Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. Sanft was 55 years old. The New York Post reported that his friend Michael Sloan confirmed the discovery of his body to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Police said the death does not appear to be suspicious, while the official cause and manner of death remain pending. [1][2][3][4][5][6]

The death occurred days after Sanft took formal legal action in the high-profile case. According to court records obtained by Fox 5 Vegas and reported by the New York Post, Sanft filed a notice of appeal challenging the murder conviction of Davis on Oct. 30. Davis, who is 63 years old, was convicted of orchestrating the killing. [1]

The original incident took place on Sept. 7, 1996, in Paradise, Nevada, when Shakur was shot four times in a drive-by shooting at a red light on East Flamingo Road and Koval Lane. Shakur, a prominent rapper and actor who sold over 75 million records worldwide, died six days after the attack at the age of 25. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Davis was convicted of the murder and sentenced to 40 years to life in prison, consisting of 20 years to life for first-degree murder plus 20 years to life for a deadly weapon enhancement. [7][8][10][11]