Sanft represented Duane "Keffe D" Davis in the high-profile prosecution stemming from Shakur's 1996 drive-by shooting on the Las Vegas Strip. During the trial, Sanft was a constant presence on camera, and he drew attention during jury selection for asking prospective jurors about their favorite movies as a way to gauge their personalities and life experiences.

In his closing argument, Sanft pressed the jury on the reliability of the state's account, telling them: "How many times do you tell a lie before it becomes the truth? That's really the question, and I think the answer is never."

Word of his death prompted an outpouring from the local legal community, where Sanft was regarded as both a fierce courtroom advocate and a mentor.

"Mike was a genuinely honest, humble and good human being," local attorney Michael Troiano said. "I'm in total shock by this news, as is the legal community as a whole. An extremely talented trial lawyer who jurors and his peers loved."

According to his professional biography, Sanft grew up on the island of Tonga, where his family lived without electricity and depended on a single water source. He said he promised himself that when his family left, he would honor the people, place and culture that raised him and make the most of the opportunities America offered.

Over the course of his career, Sanft tried more than 150 cases to a jury verdict. He also represented former Las Vegas City Councilwoman Michele Fiore, who was convicted of federal wire fraud and later pardoned by President Donald Trump.

Sanft's death leaves a void in a tight-knit defense bar that often found itself in the spotlight during one of the city's most closely watched trials in years. Colleagues described him as a lawyer whose skill in the courtroom was matched by a reputation for decency outside it.

Funeral arrangements and additional information about his death were not immediately available.