LOS ANGELES — Rapper Lil Durk, whose legal name is Durk Banks, has been found not guilty of all charges in the federal murder-for-hire case involving an alleged plot targeting fellow rapper Quando Rondo.
A federal jury in Los Angeles reached its verdict Friday after three days of deliberations, clearing Banks of the charges prosecutors brought in connection with the 2022 shooting that killed Rondo’s cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, known as Lul Pab.
The verdict represents a major legal victory for the Grammy-winning Chicago rapper, who had faced the possibility of life in federal prison if convicted.
However, the case does not mark the end of Banks’ legal proceedings. He remains in federal custody while awaiting a separate trial involving racketeering and other allegations.
Lil Durk Found Not Guilty in Federal Trial
The federal jury acquitted Banks on the central charges stemming from the alleged murder-for-hire scheme.
Prosecutors had accused him of arranging an attack intended to kill Quando Rondo, whose real name is Tyquian Bowman. The government alleged that the plot was motivated by revenge following the 2020 killing of Banks’ close friend and fellow rapper King Von, whose real name was Dayvon Bennett.
The jury ultimately rejected the government’s case against Banks.
The acquittal covered charges including conspiracy, stalking resulting in death and murder-for-hire.
What Happened in the 2022 Los Angeles Shooting?
The case centered on an August 2022 shooting in Los Angeles.
Prosecutors alleged that a group of men traveled to Los Angeles as part of a plan to target Rondo. The intended target survived, but his 24-year-old cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, was killed during the shooting near the Beverly Center.
Federal prosecutors argued that Banks helped finance and direct the operation.
The defense disputed that theory, arguing that Banks did not organize the attack and challenging the credibility of cooperating witnesses who testified for the government.
The jury was ultimately not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that Banks was responsible for the federal charges brought against him.
Defense Challenged Government Witnesses
A significant part of the defense strategy involved questioning the reliability and motivations of witnesses who testified against Banks.
Defense attorneys argued that cooperating witnesses had incentives to shift blame toward the rapper while seeking favorable treatment in their own criminal cases.
The defense also pointed toward Banks’ former assistant, Kavon Grant, as someone who could have been involved in arranging the attack without Banks’ knowledge.
After hearing testimony and reviewing the evidence, jurors found Banks not guilty.
Co-Defendants Also Acquitted of Murder-for-Hire
Banks was not the only defendant whose fate was decided in the trial.
Co-defendants Deandre Wilson and David Lindsey were also acquitted of the murder-for-hire allegations.
However, unlike Banks, the two men were convicted of certain stalking-related offenses. AP reported that the convictions included conspiracy to commit stalking, stalking involving a dangerous weapon and stalking resulting in death.
Their convictions mean the verdict produced different outcomes for the defendants despite the jury rejecting the central murder-for-hire allegations.
Lil Durk Remains in Federal Custody
Despite Friday’s acquittal, Banks is not being released from federal custody.
His separate federal case involves racketeering-related allegations and other serious charges. That case was severed from the murder-for-hire trial and is scheduled to proceed separately. Reuters reported that the next trial is expected to begin October 5.
The distinction is important: Banks was acquitted in the Quando Rondo murder-for-hire case, but that verdict does not resolve his separate federal prosecution.
A Major Victory for Lil Durk
The acquittal represents one of the most significant legal victories of Banks’ career.
The case had attracted enormous attention because of the rapper’s prominence in hip-hop and the serious allegations against him.
During the trial, supporters and well-known figures from the music industry were present at the Los Angeles courthouse. AP reported that Machine Gun Kelly and Ye were among those who attended, while groups of fans and livestreamers gathered outside.
Following the verdict, supporters celebrated outside the courthouse.
The Hip-Hop Community Watches the Case
The trial became a major story within hip-hop because it involved several prominent figures and allegations tied to the death of King Von.
For years, Banks’ career has been closely connected to Chicago’s drill scene, and his legal troubles have drawn significant attention from fans and fellow artists.
His acquittal therefore carries significance beyond the courtroom.
For supporters, the verdict represents the rejection of the government’s case against him in one of the most serious prosecutions he has faced.
At the same time, the separate federal case means the legal uncertainty surrounding his future remains.
What the Verdict Means
A not-guilty verdict means the jury found that prosecutors had not established Banks’ guilt on the charges in this trial beyond a reasonable doubt.
It does not mean that every allegation raised during the proceedings was proven false; rather, it means the government did not secure convictions on the charges presented to this jury.
The acquittal also cannot be used to determine the outcome of Banks’ separate federal case, which remains pending.
Lil Durk’s Next Legal Battle
Banks’ legal situation now shifts toward his remaining federal proceedings.
The upcoming case is separate from the murder-for-hire prosecution and involves racketeering and other allegations.
Prosecutors have indicated that they intend to continue pursuing those charges despite Friday’s acquittal.
For Banks, the next stage of his legal battle will therefore be closely watched by both the music industry and his supporters.
Final Update on Lil Durk’s Acquittal
Lil Durk has been acquitted of all federal charges in the murder-for-hire case involving an alleged plot to kill Quando Rondo.
The Los Angeles federal jury deliberated for three days before finding Durk, whose legal name is Durk Banks, not guilty of conspiracy, stalking resulting in death and murder-for-hire charges.
The prosecution had alleged that Banks helped arrange an attack against Rondo in retaliation for the 2020 killing of King Von. The 2022 attack instead resulted in the death of Rondo’s cousin, Saviay’a Robinson.
Banks’ defense challenged the government’s evidence and the credibility of cooperating witnesses, and the jury ultimately rejected the case against him.
The verdict is a major legal victory for the rapper, but his legal battle is not finished. He remains in federal custody pending a separate racketeering-related case expected to proceed in October.
For now, Lil Durk has secured a complete acquittal in the high-profile Quando Rondo murder-for-hire case, bringing an end to one major chapter of his federal legal battle while another remains ahead.