"Rapper Lil Durk Acquitted of Murder-for-Hire Charges, Remains Jailed Ahead of October Trial

Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk has been found not guilty on all counts in a federal murder-for-hire case, though he will remain in custody pending a separate trial set for October.

The Chicago native, born Durk Devontay Banks, had been accused of orchestrating the 2022 fatal shooting of Saviay'a Robinson, cousin of rival artist Quando Rondo, in Los Angeles.

Following three days of deliberation, a jury delivered its verdict on Friday, clearing the 33-year-old of five felony counts, including murder for hire resulting in death and conspiracy charges that carried a potential life sentence upon conviction.

Defense attorney Drew Findling stated that Banks was "thankful" for the outcome, as supporters gathered outside the Los Angeles courthouse to celebrate the acquittal.

According to prosecutors, Banks had orchestrated the attack in retaliation for the 2020 murder of rapper King Von, an artist signed to Banks' record label, Only the Family (OTF).

The shooting took place in August 2022 at a Los Angeles gas station, where gunfire targeted a vehicle carrying Rondo, legally known as Tyquian Bowman. While Bowman survived unharmed, his cousin Robinson was fatally shot.

Prosecutors contended that Banks had put up a bounty for Bowman's killing, claiming he faced online pressure to retaliate for King Von's death.

The prosecution's case rested largely on testimony from three witnesses who cooperated with authorities under plea deals.

Two co-defendants in the case, Deandre "OTF Dede" Wilson and David "Browneyez" Lindsey, were likewise acquitted of murder-for-hire charges but were convicted on stalking and conspiracy-to-stalk counts.

Despite his acquittal in this case, Banks remains behind bars due to a separate pending matter, in which he faces racketeering, murder, and weapons charges at a trial scheduled to begin October 5.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said prosecutors were disappointed by the verdict but intend to move forward with the upcoming trial.

Banks, who founded OTF in 2010, has become one of Chicago rap's most prominent figures, releasing seven albums that have reached the top five on the U.S. Billboard chart since 2019.

He earned the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance for "All My Life," a collaboration with J. Cole, in addition to three other Grammy nominations.