Lil Durk has scored a major legal victory after a federal jury in Los Angeles found the Chicago rapper not guilty on all counts in his high-profile murder-for-hire case.
The verdict was delivered on September 11, 2026, following three days of jury deliberations. Durk, whose legal name is Durk Banks, had faced several serious federal charges connected to a 2022 shooting in Los Angeles that prosecutors alleged was an attempted retaliation against rapper Quando Rondo.
Durk faced five counts, including conspiracy to commit stalking, stalking using a dangerous weapon, stalking resulting in death, conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities in a murder-for-hire resulting in death, and use of interstate commerce facilities in a murder-for-hire resulting in death. A conviction could have exposed the Grammy-winning rapper to the possibility of spending the rest of his life in federal prison.
The case centered around an August 2022 shooting near the Beverly Center in Los Angeles. Prosecutors alleged that several men followed Quando Rondo and members of his entourage before gunmen opened fire on their vehicle. Quando Rondo survived the shooting, but his 24-year-old cousin Saviay’a Robinson, known as Lul Pab, was killed.
Federal prosecutors argued that the attack was connected to the November 2020 death of Chicago rapper King Von, who was one of Durk’s close friends and a member of his Only The Family collective. King Von was killed during an altercation outside an Atlanta nightclub involving members of Quando Rondo’s entourage.
Prosecutors claimed Durk helped finance and arrange the Los Angeles retaliation, alleging that men traveled to California using resources connected to him before tracking Quando Rondo’s movements. Durk’s defense challenged those allegations throughout the trial and maintained that prosecutors had failed to prove that he ordered or financed a murder-for-hire plot.
After hearing evidence during the two-week federal trial, jurors ultimately rejected the government’s case against Durk and acquitted him of all five charges. The verdict reportedly sparked an emotional reaction among his supporters, with celebrations, hugs and tears outside the courthouse after the decision became public.
Two of Durk’s co-defendants, Deandre Wilson and David Lindsey, received different outcomes. Both men were convicted of conspiracy to commit stalking, stalking using a dangerous weapon and stalking resulting in death. However, like Durk, they were acquitted of the murder-for-hire allegations.
Wilson’s attorney said the defense was pleased that the jury rejected the murder-for-hire theory and indicated that his team intends to challenge the remaining stalking convictions through a motion for acquittal. Sentencing for Wilson and Lindsey will take place at a later date.
Durk’s trial attracted significant attention from both hip-hop fans and the larger entertainment world. Supporters gathered outside the downtown Los Angeles courthouse throughout the proceedings, while celebrities including Ye and Machine Gun Kelly were seen attending portions of the trial.
Despite being cleared in the murder-for-hire case, Durk is not immediately leaving federal custody. He remains jailed because he is facing a separate federal racketeering case that was severed from the Los Angeles trial. Prosecutors have confirmed that they intend to continue pursuing that case.
Durk has been in custody since his arrest in 2024. The separate racketeering proceedings mean that his legal battle is not over, even though the murder-for-hire case that carried some of the most serious allegations against him has now ended in a complete acquittal.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said prosecutors were disappointed with the jury’s decision regarding Durk but emphasized that the government intends to present its evidence again during his second trial. Prosecutors also highlighted the convictions against Wilson and Lindsey in connection with the stalking that resulted in Robinson’s death.
The verdict represents a dramatic development for Durk, whose successful music career had been interrupted by his arrest and lengthy detention. Before the legal proceedings, the Chicago rapper had become one of hip-hop’s most commercially successful artists, earning a Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance for “All My Life” featuring J. Cole and scoring several major records throughout his career.
For now, Durk has cleared one of the biggest legal hurdles he faced. The jury’s decision means he will not be convicted in connection with the alleged murder-for-hire plot against Quando Rondo, but his future remains uncertain as he prepares for the separate racketeering case.
The acquittal marks a major victory for Durk and his defense team, while also opening the next chapter of a legal battle that remains far from finished.