Rapper Lil Durk, a Grammy winner, has been acquitted of charges related to a murder-for-hire scheme aimed at rival rapper Quando Rondo, which resulted in the death of another individual. This was said to be a revenge attack connected to the death of Durk’s close friend.
Durk, whose actual name is Durk Banks, was found not guilty on Friday after a federal jury in Los Angeles deliberated for three days regarding charges including conspiracy, death resulting from stalking, and murder for hire.
The trial saw a significant presence of Durk’s supporters, including well-known figures like Machine Gun Kelly and Kanye West, at the federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles.
“Lil Durk is not guilty on ALL COUNTS,” Kanye West posted on X.
The 33-year-old from Chicago faced allegations of funding a group of men to travel to Los Angeles in August 2022 to follow Rondo and his crew, leading to a shooting outside a gas station where Rondo’s Cadillac Escalade was targeted.
While Rondo, whose real name is Tyquian Terrel Bowman, survived the attack, his 24-year-old cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, known as Lul Pab, was killed. Reports indicate that around 18 shots were fired at the SUV containing Rondo and his cousin.
Prosecutors claimed this attack was motivated by revenge, as a member of Rondo’s team had previously killed Durk’s close friend, rapper King Von, in a 2020 incident at a nightclub in Atlanta.
The earlier confrontation began with a fistfight between Bennett and Rondo at a lounge, after which Bennett was fatally shot.
During closing arguments, Assistant US Attorney Ian Yanniello suggested that while Durk might not have been involved directly at the scene, the events were orchestrated with his influence. He stated, “No one is saying he was the one on the ground with a gun in his hand in Los Angeles, but you know this story doesn’t happen without him.”
Testimonies from two men, Kacey “OTF Jam” Hester and Keith Jones, who admitted their roles in the shooting, were presented alongside statements from Durk’s former personal assistant, Kavon Grant.
Durk’s legal team characterized the testimonies from Hester, Jones, and Grant as unreliable, branding them as “snitches” testifying for lighter sentences. They argued that Grant manipulated Durk’s resources to facilitate revenge for Bennett’s death.
“[Federal agents] targeted Durk,” defense attorney Brian Steel claimed, as reported.
Two of Durk’s co-defendants, Deandre Wilson and David Lindsey, were found guilty of various charges related to the stalking and murder of Robinson but acquitted of murder for hire.
After the verdicts were revealed, First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli expressed disappointment in the jury’s decision regarding Durk, indicating they look forward to pursuing another trial.
Wilson’s attorney has filed for an acquittal against his convictions, emphasizing gratitude that the jury recognized the absence of a murder-for-hire agreement.
Despite being acquitted, Durk remains incarcerated as he awaits trial for a racketeering charge.
Known for his 2023 hit “All My Life,” featuring J. Cole, which earned him a Grammy for Best Melodic Rap Performance, Durk continues to face significant legal challenges.
