Tupac Murder Trial Attorney Michael Sanft Found Dead at 55, Just Days After Filing Appeal for Convicted Killer Keefe D

By Dennis Byron | Hip Hop Enquirer

November 8, 2026 | Las Vegas, Nevada

LAS VEGAS, NV — In a stunning development connected to one of hip-hop's most consequential murder prosecutions, prominent Las Vegas criminal defense attorney Michael Sanft, who represented Duane “Keefe D” Davis in the high-profile murder trial involving legendary rapper Tupac Shakur, has been found dead at the age of 55.

Sanft's body was reportedly discovered inside his Las Vegas home on Friday morning, November 6, 2026, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. His death was subsequently confirmed by the Clark County Coroner's Office.

The circumstances surrounding the attorney's sudden passing remain unclear, and authorities have not officially determined his cause or manner of death. A Las Vegas police spokesperson told the Review-Journal that the death did not appear suspicious.The news comes at a particularly significant moment in the Tupac Shakur murder case, as Sanft had recently initiated the appeals process for his client, who was convicted of first-degree murder in August.

Death Comes Just One Week After Major Legal Filing

On October 30, 2026, Sanft filed a notice of appeal challenging the conviction of Duane Davis, the former South Side Compton Crips figure whom Nevada prosecutors accused of orchestrating the September 1996 drive-by shooting that claimed Shakur's life.

Just seven days later, the defense attorney was found dead.

Davis, now 63, was convicted of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon and subsequently sentenced on October 13, 2026, to 40 years to life in Nevada state prison.

Sanft had maintained that his client's conviction warranted further legal scrutiny. Following the guilty verdict, he publicly questioned the jury's deliberations and criticized aspects of the investigation and pretrial rulings.

His unexpected death raises immediate questions about who will assume responsibility for Davis's ongoing appeal and whether the transition in legal representation could affect upcoming proceedings.Importantly, there is currently no verified evidence connecting Sanft's death to his representation of Davis or the Tupac murder prosecution. The proximity of the two events does not establish a connection.

A Respected Attorney With a High-Profile Client List

Although his work defending Davis brought him national recognition, Sanft had established a substantial legal career long before entering the Tupac murder case.

He was the lead trial attorney at SOS Injury Lawyers in Las Vegas and had reportedly taken more than 150 cases to jury verdict. His legal experience also included arguments before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Among his other prominent clients was former Las Vegas City Councilwoman Michele Fiore, whom he defended during her federal fraud prosecution. Fiore was convicted in 2024 and later received a presidential pardon.

Sanft's personal background was equally distinctive. Raised in Tonga before relocating to San Diego at age 12, he later attended Brigham Young University and developed a reputation for his charismatic courtroom presentations and conversational approach to jury advocacy.

Friends and Colleagues Remember the Attorney

News of Sanft's passing has prompted emotional reactions from those who knew him professionally and personally.

Michael Sloan, a Clark County District Court marshal and longtime friend who shared Sanft's enthusiasm for motorcycle riding, spoke to the Las Vegas Review-Journal about their friendship.

“He was one of my best friends and one of the best human beings I knew,” Sloan said.

Former client Michele Fiore also praised Sanft's compassion and legal abilities, describing his death as a tremendous loss to the legal community.

Fellow attorney Dan Hill, who previously worked with Sanft, remembered him as a gifted trial lawyer with a distinctive ability to connect with jurors.

According to Sloan, Sanft was divorced and was the father of two children.The murder of Tupac Shakur remains one of the most extensively scrutinized criminal cases in hip-hop history.

Shakur was shot on September 7, 1996, while riding in a vehicle driven by Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight near the Las Vegas Strip. The 25-year-old rapper died six days later from his injuries.

For decades, the killing remained officially unsolved, generating competing theories, numerous investigations, and widespread public fascination.

The arrest of Duane Davis in September 2023 represented a major breakthrough for Nevada investigators.

During the prosecution, the state argued that Davis helped coordinate the attack following an altercation involving his nephew, Orlando Anderson, and members of Shakur's entourage at the MGM Grand.

Sanft's defense challenged the state's evidence and the reliability of statements attributed to Davis. Despite those efforts, the jury returned a guilty verdict.

With the conviction now entering the appellate phase, the death of Davis's lead trial attorney introduces another significant development into a case that has captivated the hip-hop community for three decades.Questions Remain Surrounding Sanft's Sudden Death

As of Sunday, November 8, the Clark County Coroner's Office had not publicly released a final cause or manner of death in the reporting reviewed by Hip Hop Enquirer.

While the death of an attorney involved in such a historically significant criminal case will inevitably attract attention, speculation about the circumstances would be premature without supporting evidence.

Among the outstanding issues are the coroner's findings, whether any additional investigative information will be released, and who will take over Davis's appellate representation.

Hip Hop Enquirer will continue monitoring developments surrounding Michael Sanft's death and the potential legal implications for the Duane “Keefe D” Davis appeal. 

Ironically, Tupac Shakur would have been 55 if he had lived.

Our condolences go out to Michael Sanft's family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones.