Tupac Shakur murder suspect sentenced to prison for jailhouse fight

The man accused in the fatal shooting of hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur was sentenced to 16 to 40 months in prison Tuesday for a jailhouse fight with another inmate.

Jurors in April found Duane “Keffe D” Davis, 62, guilty of counts of battery by a prisoner and challenging someone to a fight.

His murder trial is scheduled for February. In that case, Davis is accused of organizing the shooting that killed Shakur near the Strip in 1996 as retaliation for a fight involving Shakur and his nephew.

Davis complained to District Judge Nadia Krall that he was attacked.

“They charged me because of who I am and it’s wrong, man,” he said.

Davis’ attorney claimed that he acted in self-defense in the battery case.

He and another inmate, Rochlon Hamilton, 53, struck each other during a Dec. 23 altercation at the Clark County Detention Center that was captured in surveillance footage, according to prosecutors.

Defense attorney Carl Arnold previously argued Hamilton approached Davis, poised and “ready to strike,” then attacked Davis.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Marc DiGiacomo had asserted Davis approached Hamilton, whom he disliked, before the fight began and took an “aggressive stance.” Once they attacked each other, it took three officers to pull the men apart, according to DiGiacomo.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal said he argued that Davis should receive a 24- to 60-month sentence given his prior felony record and the fact that he was in custody on a murder case.

Arnold said he asked for the minimum, a 12- to 30-month sentence. Davis had no intention of fighting, but issues with jail security allowed his client to be targeted, he said.

Contact Noble Brigham at nbrigham@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BrighamNoble on X.