A federal jury on Friday cleared Lil Durk of all charges in a murder-for-hire prosecution, but he remains in custody and is due to face a separate racketeering murder and firearms trial on 5 October. The verdict removes the immediate threat of a life sentence on the five felony counts he had faced, while leaving a second federal case unresolved.
The Chicago recording artist, Durk Devontay Banks, was arrested in 2024 over an ambush-style shooting at a Los Angeles petrol station in August 2022. Prosecutors said the attack targeted Tyquian Bowman, the rapper Quando Rondo, after gunfire struck the vehicle carrying Bowman and his cousin Saviay'a Robinson, who was killed. Authorities alleged Banks sought revenge for the 2020 killing of Chicago OTF rapper King Von and had offered to "pay a bounty" for anyone who killed Bowman.
The three-week trial relied on testimony from three cooperating witnesses who had reached plea deals, Kavon "OTF Vonnie" Grant, Keith "Flacka" Jones and Kacey "OTF Jam" Hester. Two co-defendants, Deandre "OTF Dede" Wilson and David "Browneyez" Lindsey, were convicted of stalking and conspiracy to commit stalking, but were acquitted of the murder-for-hire charges.
Supporters gathered outside the Los Angeles courthouse and cheered after a jury returned the not guilty verdict following three days of deliberations. Defence lawyer Drew Findling said the recording artist was "thankful" after the decision. First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said, "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".
Banks has had significant commercial success, with seven albums reaching the US Billboard chart's top five since 2019 and collaborations with artists including Drake and J Cole. He also won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance for the single "All My Life" featuring J Cole.
The acquittal closes one federal case but does not end legal exposure for Banks. Prosecutors have signalled they will pursue the separate racketeering murder and firearms charges set for October, and the outcome of that trial will determine whether additional penalties follow.
