Lil Durk found not guilty of murder for hire

The Grammy-winning rapper – real name Durk Devontay Banks – was acquitted on Friday (September 11) of all charges in a federal murder-for-hire case accusing him of orchestrating the fatal shooting of Georgia rapper Quando Rondo’s cousin at a Los Angeles gas station in 2022.

Banks faced charges including murder for hire resulting in death and conspiracy. If convicted, he could have faced a life sentence.

The three-week trial centred around the fatal shooting of Saviay’a Robinson. Authorities believed that it may have been in retaliation for the killing of Chicago rapper King Von in 2020.

Two co-defendants were tried alongside Banks. Deandre “OTF Dede” Wilson and David “Browneyez” Lindsey were convicted of stalking and conspiracy to commit stalking, but acquitted of murder-for-hire charges.

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The trial relied on three cooperating witnesses, Kavon “OTF Vonnie” Grant, Keith “Flacka” Jones and Kacey “OTF Jam” Hester, who reached plea deals and testified against Banks, Wilson and Lindsey.

The verdict came following three days of jury deliberations.

Although Banks was found not guilty of the charges in the case, he remains in custody and faces a separate trial on October 5, where he will face racketeering, murder and firearms charges.

“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”, First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement.

Banks’ father, Dontay “Big Durk” Banks, said that he was “bursting with joy, and I can barely contain my happiness,” adding that he was on a “high” and intends to celebrate the victory in a major way, per TMZ.

He also offered condolences to the family of Robinson, saying he could relate to the pain his mother is experiencing after losing a son of his own.

“We are truly sorry. Losing a loved one is very hard. I lost a son, so I know what she going through, I know what she feels. Our hearts go out to her,” he said.

In March 2025, Banks released his album ‘Deep Thoughts’ from prison.