Los Angeles – A federal jury delivered a not‑guilty verdict for Grammy‑winning rapper Lil Durk (Durk Banks) on Friday, clearing him of all murder‑for‑hire and stalking charges stemming from a 2022 shooting near the Beverly Center.
The trial, which began after a grand jury indictment in 2024, centered on allegations that Durk orchestrated a hit on rival Atlanta rapper Quando Rondo (Tyquian Bowman). Prosecutors said Durk paid a team to travel from Chicago to Los Angeles in August 2022, but the gunmen mistakenly killed 24‑year‑old Saviay’a Robinson, Bowman’s cousin, who was seated in a black Escalade at the time.
Durk’s defense team argued that the rapper was not involved in the plot. They presented former personal assistant Kavon Grant as the individual who arranged the ambush in an effort to impress his employer. Grant later switched sides and testified for the government.
Co‑defendants convicted of stalking
While Durk was acquitted, two alleged co‑conspirators—Deandre Wilson and David Lindsey, both members of Durk’s OTF (Only the Family) collective—were found guilty of conspiracy to commit stalking and of stalking that resulted in Robinson’s death. They were acquitted of the murder‑for‑hire counts.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli released a statement acknowledging the conviction of Wilson and Lindsey, but expressing disappointment with the jury’s decision regarding Durk. “We look forward to presenting our evidence at his second trial, scheduled for October 5, when he will face racketeering murder and firearms charges,” Essayli said.
Future legal battles
Durk remains in federal custody in Los Angeles. His legal team indicated he will stay detained while the government prepares a separate racketeering case slated for early October. The upcoming trial is expected to address broader criminal allegations, including alleged involvement in a 2020 killing of Dayvon “King Von” Bennett, a close associate of Durk.
Attorney Drew Findling, speaking outside the courthouse after the verdict, hailed the decision as a historic victory for Durk and his family. “The shackles must come off, and he must walk free so that he can come home to his beautiful family and to the world that loves him,” Findling said.
The case has drawn significant attention from fans and content creators, many of whom gathered outside the downtown LA courthouse after the verdict was announced. The trial underscores ongoing concerns about violence within the hip‑hop community and the federal government’s efforts to prosecute organized‑crime‑related offenses.
Original reporting: NBC Connecticut — read the source article.
