Lil Durk Found Not Guilty on All Charges in Murder-for-Hire Trial

Durk Banks will remain in federal custody despite being cleared of all five charges in his Los Angeles murder-for-hire trial, because he still faces a separate racketeering count set for trial on October 5. A jury of seven women and five men returned the not guilty verdict on September 11 after deliberating for three days, according to Billboard and Rolling Stone.

The acquittal ends a three-week trial in which prosecutors accused the Grammy-winning rapper known as Lil Durk of orchestrating a revenge plot against Georgia rapper Quando Rondo. The August 2022 shooting at a Los Angeles gas station left Rondo wounded and killed his cousin, Saviay'a Robinson, also known as Lul Pab.

Prosecutors had argued that Durk put a bounty on Rondo's head in retaliation for the 2020 killing of his close friend and collaborator King Von. They leaned on testimony from three cooperating witnesses who pleaded guilty in the case: Kacey "OTF Jam" Hester, Keith "Flacka" Jones and Kavon "OTF Vonnie" Grant.

Defense attorneys Brian Steel and Drew Findling attacked the credibility of those cooperators, calling Grant a "fraudster" and "master of deception" who they said was the true mastermind of the ambush. They argued the witnesses falsely implicated Durk to avoid life sentences.

The jury also heard some of Durk's music during the trial, including the tracks "Who Want Smoke??", "Ahhh Ha" and "Pissed Me Off." Prosecutors had argued the lyrics telegraphed the murder plot, while the defense said the songs were artistic expression shaped for commercial appeal.

Durk's two co-defendants, David Lindsey and Deandre Wilson, were convicted of stalking and conspiracy charges but acquitted of murder-for-hire. They will be sentenced later.

“22 months ago, Durk and I made an agreement that we would make history with the greatest verdict in this country, and it happened today. Durk is not guilty of all charges.”

: Drew Findling, defense attorney, speaking outside the courthouse

Durk has been in federal custody since his arrest in October 2024 while attempting to board a flight to Dubai. The additional racketeering charge accuses him of operating his Only the Family label as a violent gang, and a second trial is scheduled for October 5.

Legal analysts told Complex that federal prosecutors will almost certainly seek to keep Durk detained until that second trial concludes, citing arguments about witness intimidation and flight risk. His defense team is expected to challenge his continued detention.

The verdict drew an emotional response from Durk, who hung his head and cried as it was read, according to Rolling Stone. His wife, India Royale, and mother, LaShawnda Woodard, were in the courtroom gallery.

Durk's father, Dontay Banks Sr., told Rolling Stone he was glad "12 people who have nothing to do with anyone saw the truth." He also expressed sympathy for the Robinson family, saying, "We feel for the family who lost a son. I've lost a son, so I know what she's going through."