Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk has been cleared of all charges in a high-profile federal murder-for-hire case in Los Angeles. The 33-year-old Chicago artist, whose real name is Durk Banks, was found not guilty Friday after a jury deliberated for three days over allegations that he arranged an attack on rival rapper Quando Rondo.
The case centered on a 2022 shooting that claimed the life of Rondo’s cousin, Saviay’a Robinson. Although the verdict marks a major legal victory for Lil Durk, the rapper remains in custody and is still facing a separate federal case.
Lil Durk Cleared After Three Days of Jury Deliberations
A federal jury in Los Angeles acquitted Lil Durk of conspiracy, stalking resulting in death and murder-for-hire charges. Prosecutors had accused the rapper of helping organize a retaliatory attack against Quando Rondo, whose real name is Tyquian Bowman.
The alleged plot was connected to the 2020 killing of Dayvon Bennett, better known as King Von, a close friend of Lil Durk and a member of his Only the Family, or OTF, music collective.
According to the prosecution, a group of men traveled to Los Angeles in August 2022 and tracked down Rondo and his associates. The intended target allegedly survived the shooting, but his 24-year-old cousin, Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson, was fatally wounded during the attack near the Beverly Center shopping mall.
Lil Durk’s defense team challenged the prosecution’s case, arguing that key witnesses had reasons to shift blame onto the rapper. His lawyers pointed to his former assistant, Kavon Grant, and questioned the reliability of cooperating witnesses who had made agreements with prosecutors.
After two weeks of testimony, jurors ultimately decided that the evidence was insufficient to convict Banks on the charges.
Co-Defendants Convicted on Stalking Charges
The verdict also included decisions involving two men tried alongside Lil Durk: Deandre Wilson and David Lindsey.
Both defendants were acquitted of murder-for-hire charges but convicted of conspiracy to commit stalking, stalking using a dangerous weapon and stalking resulting in death.
The case attracted considerable attention from the music industry. Artists including Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, and Machine Gun Kelly attended proceedings, while fans and livestreamers gathered outside the downtown Los Angeles courthouse.
Lil Durk reportedly became emotional as the not-guilty verdicts were read. Supporters celebrated the outcome, which could have resulted in a life sentence had he been convicted of the most serious allegations.
Separate Federal Trial Still Ahead
Despite his acquittal, Lil Durk’s legal troubles are not over. The rapper remains in custody following his 2024 arrest and is awaiting a separate federal trial involving racketeering, murder-related and firearms charges.
That case is scheduled to proceed on October 5, 2026, according to prosecutors and reports from the proceedings.
Federal prosecutors have indicated that they intend to continue pursuing the remaining allegations. The latest verdict therefore represents an important development in Lil Durk’s legal battle, but not the conclusion of his criminal cases.
For now, the rapper has been cleared of the murder-for-hire accusations, while his future remains tied to the outcome of the separate federal proceedings.
