Lil Durk Acquitted in Federal Murder-for-Hire Trial
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — A federal jury found rapper Lil Durk not guilty on all counts in a murder-for-hire trial connected to a deadly 2022 shooting near the Beverly Center in Los Angeles.
The Grammy-winning artist, whose legal name is Durk Banks, faced conspiracy, stalking and murder-for-hire allegations. Jurors returned the verdict on Sept. 11 after approximately three days of deliberations.
Federal prosecutors alleged that Banks arranged a retaliatory attack targeting rapper Quando Rondo, whose legal name is Tyquian Bowman. Prosecutors claimed the alleged plot was connected to the 2020 killing of Banks’ friend and fellow Chicago rapper King Von.
Authorities said gunmen followed Bowman before opening fire on his vehicle at a gas station on Aug. 19, 2022. Bowman survived, but his 24-year-old cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, was killed.
Prosecutors alleged that Banks used his money and influence within his Only the Family music collective to support the attack. His defense challenged the credibility of cooperating witnesses and argued that prosecutors failed to prove Banks ordered or organized the shooting.
The jury acquitted Banks of every count submitted against him in the trial. Two co-defendants were convicted of conspiracy and stalking-related charges but acquitted of the murder-for-hire allegations.
Despite the acquittal, Banks was not immediately released. He remains in federal custody while awaiting proceedings in a separate racketeering case.
The verdict concludes the murder-for-hire case against Banks, who had maintained his innocence since pleading not guilty.
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