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Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk has been acquitted of all charges following a two-week federal trial in Los Angeles. The artist, whose legal name is Durk Banks, faced allegations of conspiracy, murder for hire, and stalking resulting in death in connection with a 2022 shooting incident. The jury of twelve deliberated for three days before delivering a not guilty verdict on all counts, prompting an emotional response from the 33-year-old musician.
The case centered on accusations that Banks orchestrated a murder-for-hire plot targeting rival rapper Quando Rondo, allegedly seeking revenge for the 2020 death of his close associate King Von. Prosecutors claimed the alleged bounty led to a shooting at a Los Angeles gas station in August 2022, where Quando Rondo’s 24-year-old cousin was killed. The government’s case relied heavily on testimony from cooperating witnesses, including two individuals who participated in the shooting and pleaded guilty to related charges.
Banks’ defense team successfully challenged the credibility of the prosecution’s cooperating witnesses, arguing they had strong incentives to implicate the rapper to avoid lengthy prison sentences. His lead attorney Drew Findling characterized the verdict as a decisive victory against substantial federal resources. Banks remains in custody pending a separate racketeering trial scheduled for October, though his legal team plans to challenge his continued detention.
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Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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