A federal jury in Los Angeles has acquitted Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk of charges linked to the 2022 shooting of rival rapper Quando Rondo.
Durk, whose real name is Durk Banks, was found not guilty of conspiracy, stalking resulting in death and murder-for-hire charges after the jury deliberated for three days.
The shooting took place at a Los Angeles gas station and resulted in the death of Rondo’s cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, popularly known as Lul Pab.
Prosecutors had accused Durk of financing and directing the attack as retaliation for the 2020 killing of his close friend and fellow rapper, King Von. They alleged that several men travelled to Los Angeles, tracked Rondo and his entourage and opened fire on their vehicle.
Rondo survived the attack, but Robinson was killed.
Despite the acquittal, Durk will remain in custody because he is awaiting a separate trial on a racketeering charge. He has been jailed since his arrest in 2024.
His co-defendants, Deandre Wilson and David Lindsey, were convicted of conspiracy to commit stalking, stalking with a dangerous weapon and stalking resulting in death. However, both men were also cleared of the murder-for-hire charge.
“We thank the jury for seeing there was no murder for hire,” Wilson’s lawyer, Craig Harbaugh, said.
Durk’s lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The rapper’s supporters, including music stars Ye and Machine Gun Kelly, attended parts of the two-week trial in Los Angeles.
Durk won a Grammy for his 2023 hit, All My Life, featuring J. Cole. Prosecutors are expected to continue with the separate racketeering case.
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