Lil Durk Acquitted, Co-Defendants Convicted in LA Murder-for-Hire Plot
- Grammy-winning Chicago rapper Lil Durk was acquitted of a murder-for-hire plot by a federal jury in Los Angeles, according to reporting from CBS News and the Associated Press.
- The jury delivered the not-guilty verdict on Friday after three days of deliberations following a two-week trial in downtown Los Angeles.
- While Lil Durk was cleared of all charges in the murder-for-hire plot, two of his co-defendants were found guilty on related counts.
Grammy-winning Chicago rapper Lil Durk was acquitted of a murder-for-hire plot by a federal jury in Los Angeles, according to reporting from CBS News and the Associated Press. Legally named Durk Devontay Banks, the artist had previously confronted a series of felony accusations—such as murder, conspiracy, and stalking—linked to a 2022 shooting close to the Beverly Center shopping mall.
The jury delivered the not-guilty verdict on Friday after three days of deliberations following a two-week trial in downtown Los Angeles. According to the Associated Press, supporters including music stars Machine Gun Kelly and Ye appeared in the audience during the proceedings, while large groups of fans and content creators gathered outside the courthouse.
Trial Verdicts and Co-Defendant Convictions
While Lil Durk was cleared of all charges in the murder-for-hire plot, two of his co-defendants were found guilty on related counts. Based on reports from CBS News, David Lindsey and Deandre Wilson were found guilty of stalking using a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit stalking, and stalking that resulted in death. However, both Wilson and Lindsey were acquitted of the actual murder-for-hire charges.
“We thank the jury for seeing there was no murder for hire,” Wilson’s attorney Craig Harbaugh said in an email cited by the Associated Press. Harbaugh added that legal teams remain confident that the remaining counts will not survive a pending motion for acquittal. Attorneys for Durk and Lindsey did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment, according to the same reporting.
Federal Prosecution Arguments and Evidence
Federal prosecutors accused Durk of orchestrating a plot to kill Atlanta rapper Quando Rondo, whose real name is Tyquian Bowman. According to CBS News and the Associated Press, investigators asserted the shooting served as retaliation for the 2020 murder of Chicago OTF rapper King Von, who was killed during an exchange of gunfire outside the Monaco Hookah Lounge in Atlanta. Authorities alleged that Durk made it known he would pay a bounty to anyone who killed Rondo.
The prosecution stated that in August 2022, a group of men traveled to Los Angeles using funds provided by Durk, tracked Rondo, and opened fire on his vehicle near the Beverly Center shopping mall. While Rondo survived the shooting, his 24-year-old cousin, Saviay’a Robinson—also known as Lul Pab—was killed. Keith Jones and Kavon Grant, both associated with the case, pleaded guilty and testified against Durk, Wilson, and Lindsey at trial, according to CBS News.
Pending Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
Despite his acquittal in the Los Angeles trial, Durk remains in federal custody. According to CBS News, he faces a separate federal racketeering trial scheduled to begin on October 5, where he will confront charges related to racketeering murder and firearms.
Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement reported by CBS News.
Having secured the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance with J. Cole for his track “All My Life,” Durk has also accumulated three additional Grammy nominations. He has been held in custody since his initial 2024 arrest.