Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk was acquitted Friday of all charges in a federal murder-for-hire case that accused him of orchestrating the revenge killing of a man in Los Angeles four years ago. The artist, whose real name is Durk Devontay Banks, was found not guilty after three days of jury deliberations.
Banks, 33, had faced five felony counts, including murder for hire resulting in death and conspiracy. Conviction could have resulted in a life sentence. He was arrested in 2024 in connection with a shooting that killed the cousin of rival rapper Quando Rondo.
Despite the acquittal, Banks remains in custody and is scheduled for a separate trial on October 5, where he will face racketeering murder and firearms charges. "While we are disappointed with the jury's decision regarding Durk Banks, a.k.a. 'Lil Durk,' we look forward to presenting our evidence at his second trial," First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement.
Two co-defendants, Deandre "OTF Dede" Wilson and David "Browneyez" Lindsey, were tried alongside Banks. They were convicted of stalking and conspiracy to commit stalking but acquitted of the murder-for-hire charges, according to CBS News.
The trial, which lasted three weeks, relied on testimony from three cooperating witnesses who had reached plea deals. The case stemmed from a fatal shooting in August 2022 at a Los Angeles petrol station. A car carrying Quando Rondo, real name Tyquian Bowman, was shot at, resulting in the death of Bowman's cousin, Saviay'a Robinson, who was also in the vehicle.
Federal prosecutors alleged that Banks plotted to kill Bowman in retaliation for the 2020 murder of Chicago OTF rapper King Von, who was signed to Banks's label. King Von was killed in an exchange of gunfire in Atlanta. Prosecutors claimed Banks had stated he would "pay a bounty" to anyone who killed Bowman, and that he felt social media pressure to avenge King Von's death.
Banks founded the OTF label in 2010. He won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance for his single "All My Life" featuring J Cole. He has received three other Grammy nominations and has had seven albums reach the top five of the US Billboard chart since 2019. He has also collaborated with artists such as Drake and J Cole.