Grammy‑winning rapper Lil Durk was acquitted on Friday of all federal murder‑for‑hire charges that linked him to a 2022 shooting that killed the cousin of fellow artist Quando Rondo.
The 33‑year‑old faced five felony counts, including murder for hire and conspiracy. The verdict followed three days of jury deliberations outside the Los Angeles federal courthouse, as supporters swelled the plaza in a display of fan solidarity. Though cleared, Durk remains in custody and is set to confront a separate racketeering and firearms case on October 5.
Durk, whose real name is Devontay Banks, first entered the headlines when he was arrested in 2024 on a different shooting allegation. Prosecutors asserted that he had orchestrated an attempt on the life of rapper King Von’s friend, seeking a bounty for the hit. The petition stemmed from a fatal ambush at a petrol station in August 2022: a car carrying a group that included Quando Rondo was shot, carrying away the victim Saviay’a Robinson while Rondo was unharmed.
Three co‑operating witnesses—Kavon “OTF Vonnie” Grant, Keith “Flacka” Jones and Kacey “OTF Jam” Hester—reached plea deals and testified against Durk and two co‑defendants. These co‑defendants, Deandre “OTF Dede” Wilson and David “Browneyez” Lindsey, were convicted of stalking and conspiracy but acquitted of murder‑for‑hire charges.
Durk, who founded the Nobody Stole? Death Group in 2010, earned the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance for “All My Life” featuring J Cole. His track record includes seven top‑five albums on the U.S. Billboard chart since 2019 and collaborations with Drake and J Cole.
While the verdict lifts a major legal burden, the pending October trial could still carry a life sentence if Durk is convicted of racketeering murder and firearms offences. The attorney’s office acknowledges the setback but remains optimistic about forthcoming evidence.
