Lil Durk Acquitted of Murder-for-Hire in 2022 Killing of Quando Rondo's Cousin

A federal jury in Los Angeles has acquitted Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk of murder-for-hire, conspiracy and stalking resulting in death in connection with the 2022 killing of Saviay'a Robinson, a cousin of rapper Quando Rondo.

The verdict, delivered on Friday local time, closes a high-profile trial that drew fans, tourists and celebrities to the courthouse. Lil Durk, whose real name is Durk Banks, is 32 and a leading figure in Chicago's drill music scene.

Prosecutors alleged that Banks directed gunmen to target Quando Rondo, born Tyquian Bowman, as retaliation for the death of his friend and fellow rapper King Von, whose real name was Dayvon Bennett. The attack at the Beverly Centre shopping mall instead killed Robinson, who was travelling in Bowman's vehicle. According to the prosecution, three gunmen fired 18 rounds at the car, in violence rooted in a feud that began with a 2020 scuffle in Atlanta between Bennett and Bowman outside a hookah lounge. Bennett was fatally shot by someone in Bowman's entourage.

Assistant US Attorney Ian Yanniello told the court that Banks's alleged role was central even if he was not at the scene. "No one is saying he was the one on the ground with a gun in his hand in Los Angeles, but you know this story doesn't happen without him, and it doesn't make sense without his leadership," Yanniello said, adding that Banks "used his money, his power, and his influence to try to kill his biggest opp."

The government's case leaned heavily on three cooperating witnesses: Kacey Hester, also known as OTF Jam; Keith Jones; and Banks's former assistant, Kavon Grant. The defence attacked their credibility, with attorney Brian Steel calling them unreliable "snitches, cooperators, rats" seeking lighter sentences. Another defence lawyer, Drew Findling, accused Grant of manipulating investigators and others involved in the case. "Grant has manipulated the people in this case; he has manipulated the FBI, the LAPD, and respectfully, has been manipulating the members of the US Attorney's Office," Findling said, urging jurors to reject that influence.

Two co-defendants, Deandre Wilson and David Lindsey, whom prosecutors identified as one of the gunmen, were convicted of conspiracy to commit stalking, stalking using a dangerous weapon and stalking resulting in death. They were acquitted of the murder-for-hire charges. Wilson's attorney argued that he was merely a passenger during the incident.

Banks's previous five solo albums all debuted in the top five of the Billboard 200. His 2023 single "All My Life," featuring J Cole, reached No 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won a Grammy earlier this year for Best Melodic Rap Performance. Celebrities including Kanye West and rapper MGK appeared at the courthouse in support of him during the trial.