US rapper Lil Durk acquitted in murder-for-hire trial
Lil Durk, the Grammy-winning rapper whose real name is Durk Devontay Banks, has been acquitted of all charges in a federal murder-for-hire case linked to a 2022 shooting in Los Angeles. The incident resulted in the death of Saviay’a Robinson, a cousin of rival rapper Quando Rondo.
After three days of deliberations, a Los Angeles jury found Banks not guilty on all five felony counts. The prosecution had alleged that he orchestrated a revenge plot targeting Tyquian Bowman, known as Quando Rondo, in response to the 2020 murder of Banks’ close friend, Dayvon “King Von” Bennett.
Federal prosecutors claimed that Banks planned, ordered, and financed the operation to kill Bowman, but the attack instead claimed Robinson’s life during a daytime ambush on August 19, 2022.
In his defense, Banks’ attorneys argued that he had no involvement in the alleged conspiracy and asserted that his former personal assistant, Kavon Grant, was responsible for coordinating the attack.
Banks was arrested in 2024 and pleaded not guilty to several charges, including conspiracy, stalking with a dangerous weapon, stalking resulting in death, and two murder-for-hire-related counts. His co-defendants, Deandre Dontrell Wilson and David Brian Lindsey, were convicted of stalking and conspiracy to commit stalking but acquitted of the remaining charges.
Following the jury’s verdict, supporters gathered outside the Los Angeles courthouse to celebrate. Defense attorney Drew Findling stated that Banks expressed gratitude for the decision.
At 33 years old, Banks has achieved significant success in his music career, with seven albums reaching the top five on the US Billboard chart since 2019. He has collaborated with notable artists, including Drake and J. Cole.
Despite his acquittal in this case, Banks remains in custody as he faces a separate federal trial next month on charges of racketeering, murder, and firearms. If convicted in this upcoming case, he could face life in prison.
