A federal jury in Los Angeles acquitted Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk on Friday of all charges in a 2022 murder-for-hire plot targeting rival artist Quando Rondo, a shooting that resulted in the death of Rondo’s cousin near the Beverly Center. Durk remains in federal custody ahead of an October trial.
A Los Angeles federal jury reached its verdict on Friday afternoon, acquitting the Grammy-winning rapper on all federal counts after three days of deliberations. The trial centered on an active feud stemming from an Atlanta altercation two years prior, during which an associate of Quando Rondo—whose legal name is Tyquian Bowman—fatally shot Dayvon “King Von” Bennett, a close friend and collaborator of Lil Durk.
Prosecutors maintained throughout the two-week trial that Durk Banks directed hit men to target Bowman for revenge. According to the government’s case, hit men traveled from Chicago to Los Angeles in August 2022 with funds provided by Banks, tracking Bowman’s vehicle before three gunmen fired 18 rounds at a black Cadillac Escalade outside the bustling Beverly Center shopping district.
While Bowman survived the ambush, the gunfire mistakenly struck his 24-year-old cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, killing him in broad daylight. The high-profile courtroom proceedings drew heavy media attention, alongside appearances from celebrities including Ye and Machine Gun Kelly in the gallery.
Co-Defendants Convicted on Stalking Counts as Murder-for-Hire Allegations Fail
While the jury cleared Banks of all charges—including conspiracy, stalking resulting in death, and murder-for-hire—his two co-defendants faced a different outcome. Deandre Wilson and David Lindsey, both affiliates of Banks’ Only the Family (OTF) hip-hop collective, were convicted of conspiracy to commit stalking and stalking charges. However, they were similarly acquitted of the specific murder-for-hire counts.
The prosecution’s case relied heavily on testimony from three cooperating witnesses who reached plea deals with the government: Kacey Hester, Keith Jones, and Banks’ former personal assistant Kavon Grant. Prosecutors argued that Banks used his money, power, and influence to orchestrate the hit.
Defense attorneys aggressively pushed back against the cooperating witnesses, describing them as unreliable cooperators seeking lighter sentences. Brian Steel, representing the defense, accused federal agents of unfairly targeting Banks, while Drew Findling argued that Kavon Grant acted as a master of deception who manipulated federal investigators to pin the plot on a high-profile target.
Defense Exaltation and Prosecution Reaction to the Verdict
Tensions ran high inside the courtroom ahead of the verdict, with U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald warning the packed gallery to maintain decorum before the decision was read. When the not-guilty verdicts for Banks were announced, gasps and applause rippled through the room, prompting tears from family members.
“Twenty-two 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
Outside the courthouse, defense counsel celebrated the outcome while pressing for his immediate release. However, Banks remained in federal custody due to pending charges in a separate racketeering case. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli issued a statement addressing both the convictions of the co-defendants and the upcoming legal hurdles.
“While we are disappointed with the jury’s decision regarding Durk Banks, a.k.a. ‘Lil Durk,’ we look forward to presenting our evidence at his second trial.”
Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney
Remaining Legal Battles and Next Court Date
Despite his acquittal on the murder-for-hire counts, Banks faces a second federal trial scheduled to begin on October 5. That upcoming proceeding involves separate racketeering murder and firearms charges that were severed from the initial trial by the presiding judge.
Banks, who won a Grammy earlier in 2024 for the hit single All My Life
featuring J. Cole, has remained jailed since his arrest in 2024. His defense team now turns its focus toward preparing for the October racketeering case.
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