Chicago rapper Lil Durk, whose legal name is Durk Banks, has won a major legal victory after a federal jury found him not guilty on all charges in the high-profile murder-for-hire case involving fellow rapper Quando Rondo.
However, despite the acquittal, Lil Durk is not a free man just yet. The Grammy-winning rapper remains in federal custody because he faces a separate federal case that is scheduled to go to trial on October 5.
The verdict was delivered Friday in federal court in Los Angeles after the jury deliberated for three days following a trial that lasted approximately two weeks.
Acquitted of Murder-for-Hire Charges
Prosecutors accused Lil Durk of orchestrating and financing a 2022 attack targeting rapper Quando Rondo, whose real name is Tyquian Bowman.
The case stemmed from a shooting near the Beverly Center in Los Angeles in August 2022. Prosecutors alleged that the attack was carried out as retaliation for the 2020 killing of Durk’s close friend and fellow rapper King Von, whose real name was Dayvon Bennett.
Rondo survived the shooting, but his 24-year-old cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, also known as Lul Pab, was killed.
Federal prosecutors argued that Durk helped arrange the attack and provided financial support for those involved.
Durk’s defense team disputed the government’s case and maintained that he did not order the shooting. Defense attorneys challenged the credibility of witnesses who testified against him and argued that his former assistant was responsible for arranging the attack.
After considering the evidence, the jury found Durk not guilty of the charges connected to the murder-for-hire plot.
Why Lil Durk Is Still in Custody
Although the verdict represents a major victory for the rapper, his legal battle is not over.
Durk remains incarcerated because a separate federal case involving racketeering, murder-related and firearms allegations is still pending.
That case was separated from the murder-for-hire trial and is scheduled for October 5. Two of Durk’s co-defendants, Deandre Wilson and David Lindsey, are also facing the separate case.
Federal prosecutors have made clear that they intend to continue pursuing the remaining case despite the acquittal.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said prosecutors were disappointed with the verdict but planned to present their evidence during the upcoming trial.
Supporters Celebrate Outside Courthouse
The verdict brought an emotional reaction from Durk’s supporters, who gathered outside the federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles.
The trial attracted considerable attention from the hip-hop community, with artists and celebrities showing support for the Chicago rapper during the proceedings.
Durk has remained in federal custody since his arrest in October 2024. His acquittal on the murder-for-hire charges means he has avoided the potentially severe consequences associated with those allegations, but the upcoming federal case means his legal situation remains unresolved.
A Major Moment in Lil Durk’s Career
The legal battle has unfolded during an important period in Durk’s career.
The rapper is a Grammy Award winner who earned the Best Melodic Rap Performance Grammy for his 2023 collaboration with J. Cole, “All My Life.” He has also worked with some of the biggest names in hip-hop, including Drake.
Durk’s supporters now have another reason to celebrate following the not-guilty verdict, but his future remains tied to the outcome of the October federal trial.
For now, the headline is clear: Lil Durk was found not guilty in the murder-for-hire case, but he remains in federal custody as he prepares to face another trial.
The October 5 proceeding will determine the next chapter in the rapper’s ongoing legal battle.
