Lil Durk Trial Update: Federal Jury Acquits Rapper of Murder-for-Hire While Two Co-Defendants Convicted

Lil Durk remained in custody after a federal jury in downtown Los Angeles acquitted him on Friday, 11 September 2026, of all five charges in his murder-for-hire trial. Two co-defendants were convicted of stalking offences but cleared of murder for hire.

For context, prosecutors alleged that the Chicago rapper, whose given name is Durk Banks, arranged for hitmen to kill rapper Quando Rondo, born Tyquian Bowman. Bowman survived the attack near the Beverly Center in 2022. His cousin, Saviay'a Robinson, 24, was fatally shot.

Banks faces a separate racketeering trial scheduled for 5 October 2026, according to the US Attorney's Office in Los Angeles. The acquittal did not secure his release.

Lil Durk Cleared as Co-Defendants Face Convictions

After three days of deliberations, jurors convicted David Lindsey and Deandre Wilson of conspiracy to commit stalking, stalking using a dangerous weapon and stalking resulting in death. Prosecutors had alleged that Lindsey was among the shooters.

Banks was acquitted of those three stalking charges. The other two counts concerned conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities to commit murder for hire resulting in death, and using those facilities to commit murder for hire resulting in death.

First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said the convictions delivered 'justice to the family of Saviay'a Robinson'. He expressed disappointment at Banks' acquittal and said prosecutors looked forward to presenting evidence at his second trial.

Witness Credibility Contested in Lil Durk Trial

During two weeks of testimony, prosecutors argued that Banks sought revenge for the death of his close friend Dayvon Bennett, the rapper known as King Von.

According to prosecutors, Bennett was fatally shot by someone in Bowman's entourage following a fight outside an Atlanta venue. They alleged that the later attack on Bowman was retaliation, with gunmen firing at the Cadillac Escalade carrying him and Robinson.

Much of the testimony came from admitted shooters Kacey 'OTF Jam' Hester and Keith Jones, alongside Banks' former personal assistant Kavon Grant.

Defence lawyer Brian Steel argued that the cooperating witnesses were unreliable and sought lighter sentences by implicating Banks. He said Grant had access to Banks' resources and had secured the guns and cars used in the killing.

Fellow defence lawyer Drew Findling accused Grant of pursuing revenge for Bennett, his cousin. Prosecutors countered that Banks had pressed members of his Only the Family hip-hop collective to kill Bowman. These were competing courtroom arguments, not findings against the acquitted rapper.

Lil Durk Wipes Away Tears as Verdicts Are Read

Banks kept his head down as the verdicts were announced, according to the Los Angeles Times' courtroom account. At the second 'not guilty', he began wiping away tears. India Royale put an arm around his mother, who was crying.

More than 60 people had packed the courtroom. Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald urged spectators to restrain themselves, although gasps and a clap interrupted the reading of Banks' verdicts.

Outside, supporters wore 'Free Durk' shirts and played his music. Findling told the crowd he would continue working to secure Banks' release.

Banks' father, Dontay Banks, called the verdict 'a beautiful moment for us', then addressed Robinson's mother.

'We are truly sorry,' he said. Having lost a son himself, he spoke of recognising her grief. 'Our hearts go out to her.'