Lil Durk Acquitted of All Charges in Shooting Trial

Lil Durk was acquitted of all charges Friday after a three-week federal trial in downtown Los Angeles over the shooting that killed Quando Rondo’s cousin. The Grammy-winning rapper, born Durk Banks, had faced five federal counts, including conspiracy to commit stalking, stalking resulting in death, and murder for hire.

Banks hung his head and began crying as the verdict was read. His wife, India Royale, wrapped her arm around his mother, author LaShawnda Woodard, while Banks’ lawyer Christy O’Connor linked arms with him to steady him. The jury, made up of seven women and five men, took three days to reach its verdict.

Prosecutors accused Banks of orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot targeting rival rapper Quando Rondo. They said Banks blamed Rondo for the 2020 killing of his close friend and musical protégé, King Von, and that an alleged bounty led to a chain of events ending with Rondo’s cousin being killed.

In closing arguments, prosecutors said Banks “wanted revenge” for King Von’s death and had communicated that desire to members of his Only The Family, or OTF, hip-hop collective through text messages. They characterized the multi-platinum rapper as a hardened Chicago gang leader and argued that he arranged an attack while Rondo was vulnerable during a visit to Los Angeles. Jurors also saw video evidence showing three gunmen, with one armed with a Glock.

Banks denied the allegations, while his defense lawyers challenged the credibility of government cooperating witnesses, describing them as admitted killers who implicated the rapper to avoid life sentences. The jury found that the government failed to prove its case.

His co-defendants Deandre Wilson and David Lindsey were convicted of conspiracy to commit stalking, stalking, and stalking resulting in death. They were acquitted of the murder-for-hire charges.

Banks will remain in custody pending a second trial on racketeering-related charges that were severed from the first case. The remaining charges, alleging murder in aid of racketeering activity and firearms possession, are scheduled for trial on Oct. 5. His lawyers are expected to challenge his continued detention in the meantime.

Lead defense lawyer Drew Findling described the verdict as a victory against the Justice Department and FBI. Banks’ father, Dontay Banks Sr., said he was glad the truth came out while also expressing sympathy for the family that lost a son.