Found Dead: Attorney Michael Sanft Represented Person Convicted in Tupac Shakur Murder Case

Death Reported, Details Unknown

Sanft was a longtime Las Vegas attorney and Davis’s defense lawyer. Sources reported his death to 8 News Now investigators on Friday. The sources did not disclose when or where Sanft died. No further details about his death were provided.

Davis Case And Conviction

The account says Davis was convicted of orchestrating the drive-by killing of rapper Tupac Shakur and providing the weapon. It describes him as the only person convicted in relation to the 1996 crime.

It says Davis received a sentence of 13 to 40 years in October. Sanft argued that the police investigation was flawed and intended to appeal the conviction.

Timeline Details Conflict

The account says Davis was convicted in August 2025, but also describes a trial that began August 10, 2026. A caption says a jury found him guilty on August 31, 2026.

Those dates do not align, and the account does not resolve the discrepancy. It also says the trial was expected to last a month and might not establish who fired the shots.

Sanft’s Background

Sanft was raised on the island of Tonga and moved to San Diego shortly before his teenage years. His profile on Elite Lawyers’ website says he earned his law degree from Brigham Young University. The profile says he had been working with the firm since 2024.