A federal jury in Los Angeles has acquitted Grammy-winning Chicago rapper Lil Durk of all charges in a high-profile murder-for-hire case. The verdict, delivered on Friday, clears the artist of orchestrating the 2022 shooting death of Saviay’a Robinson, the cousin of fellow rapper Quando Rondo.
The 33-year-old, whose legal name is Durk Devontay Banks, faced five felony counts, including conspiracy and murder for hire resulting in death. A conviction would have carried a mandatory life sentence. Following the decision, defense attorney Drew Findling stated that Banks was “thankful” for the outcome after three days of jury deliberations.
The case originated from an August 2022 ambush at a Los Angeles gas station. Prosecutors alleged that Banks sought retaliation for the 2020 killing of King Von, a Chicago OTF rapper signed to Banks’ label, during an altercation in Atlanta. Authorities claimed Banks had publicly offered a bounty for the death of Tyquian Bowman, known professionally as Quando Rondo, whom prosecutors accused of being involved in Von’s death, although Bowman was never charged.
During the three-week trial, Bowman escaped unharmed, but his cousin Robinson was fatally shot. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on testimony from three cooperating witnesses—Kavon Grant, Keith Jones, and Kacey Hester—who had struck plea deals.
Two co-defendants, Deandre Wilson and David Lindsey, were also tried alongside Banks. While they were acquitted of the murder-for-hire charges, both were convicted of stalking and conspiracy to commit stalking.
Despite the acquittal on these charges, Banks remains in custody. He is scheduled to stand trial on October 5, where he faces separate racketeering and firearms charges. First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli expressed disappointment with the murder-for-hire verdict but affirmed that the government looks forward to presenting its evidence in the upcoming proceedings.
Banks, who founded the OTF collective in 2010, achieved significant commercial success, securing seven top-five albums on the US Billboard chart since 2019. In 2024, he won the Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance for his single “All My Life,” which featured J. Cole. Supporters gathered outside the courthouse to celebrate the verdict.
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