A Los Angeles federal jury found rapper Lil Durk, whose legal name is Durk Banks, not guilty Friday, September 11, on all charges connected to a 2022 murder-for-hire plot that resulted in the death of a man near the Beverly Center shopping mall. The jury reached its verdict after three days of deliberations.
What Prosecutors Alleged
Federal prosecutors argued that Banks, 33, financed and directed a plan to kill fellow rapper Quando Rondo, whose legal name is Tyquian Bowman, as revenge for the November 2020 killing of Banks's close friend and fellow Chicago rapper King Von (Dayvon Bennett). Prosecutors alleged members of Banks's record label collective, Only the Family (OTF), traveled from Chicago to Los Angeles in August 2022, tracked Rondo's movements, and opened fire on a vehicle he was riding in near a gas station by the Beverly Center on August 19, 2022. Prosecutors said three gunmen fired 18 rounds at the vehicle. Rondo survived the attack, but his cousin, Saviay'a "Lul Pab" Robinson, 24, was killed.
The Charges Banks Faced
Banks faced five separate federal charges: conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire; use of interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death; conspiracy to commit interstate stalking; interstate stalking involving a dangerous weapon; and interstate stalking resulting in death. He faced a potential life sentence in federal prison if convicted on the most serious counts.
The Defense's Case
Banks pleaded not guilty, and his defense team argued during opening statements that he had no involvement in the alleged scheme. His attorneys pointed instead to his former personal assistant, Kavon Grant, arguing that Grant was actually the one who set up the intended killing.
What the Prosecution Presented at Trial
During the trial, prosecutors described Banks as motivated by revenge and alleged that members of the Only the Family collective used flights, hotel rooms, rental vehicles, and other resources connected to Banks's business operations to carry out the attack. The government also presented testimony from several cooperating witnesses, including individuals who admitted to their own roles in the alleged plot.
The Verdict
Ultimately, the jury's verdict means prosecutors failed to prove Banks's involvement beyond a reasonable doubt. Two of his co-defendants — Deandre Dontrell Wilson ("DeDe") and David Brian Lindsey ("Browneyez") — were convicted of stalking and conspiracy to commit stalking, but were acquitted of the more serious murder-for-hire charges, similar to Banks.
A Case Years in the Making
Banks was arrested in Broward County, Florida, on October 24, 2024, reportedly while attempting to flee the country, alongside several of his OTF associates. The trial, held in the US District Court for the Central District of California, began on August 20, 2026 — meaning the case spanned nearly two years from arrest to verdict.
A Trial That Drew Celebrity Attention
The high-profile proceedings became something of a spectacle outside the downtown Los Angeles courthouse, drawing crowds of supporters wearing "Free Durk" shirts, along with celebrity appearances from Ye (Kanye West) and Machine Gun Kelly throughout the trial.
Banks's Career and Public Profile
Banks won a Grammy Award in 2024 for Best Melodic Rap Performance for his hit song "All My Life," which features J. Cole. The acquittal marks a significant legal victory for the Chicago rapper, who has maintained his innocence throughout the nearly two-year legal saga.
What's Next
With the federal case now concluded and Banks acquitted on every count, attention turns to how the verdict affects the broader OTF collective and the ongoing legal matters facing his co-defendants who were convicted on the lesser stalking-related charges. For continuing coverage, see the full Variety report.