Grammy-winning US rapper Lil Durk acquitted in murder-for-hire trial
The Chicago rapper was arrested in 2024 and accused of involvement in a shooting that killed the cousin of rival rapper Quando Rondo.
Grammy-winning US rapper Lil Durk cleared in murder-for-hire case
Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk was found not guilty on Friday of all charges in a federal murder-for-hire case that alleged he had arranged the revenge killing of a man who was shot dead in a daytime ambush in Los Angeles four years ago.
The Chicago rapper was taken into custody in 2024 and accused of being involved in a shooting that killed the cousin of rival rapper Quando Rondo.
Defence lawyer Drew Findling said the performer, whose real name is Durk Devontay Banks, was "thankful" after the verdict.
Lil Durk has placed seven albums in the top five of the US Billboard chart since 2019 and has also teamed up with stars including Drake and J Cole on hit singles.
Supporters applauded outside a Los Angeles courthouse after the verdict, which followed three days of jury deliberations.
The 33-year-old had faced five felony counts, including murder for hire resulting in death and conspiracy. If convicted, he could have received a life sentence.
Although Banks was acquitted in the case, he remains in custody and is due to face a separate trial on 5 October, where he will confront 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.
During the three-week trial, two co-defendants were tried with Banks. Deandre "OTF Dede" Wilson and David "Browneyez" Lindsey were convicted of stalking and conspiracy to commit stalking, but cleared of murder-for-hire charges, the BBC's US partner
The case depended on three cooperating witnesses, Kavon "OTF Vonnie" Grant, Keith "Flacka" Jones and Kacey "OTF Jam" Hester, who struck plea deals and testified against Banks, Wilson and Lindsey.
It arose from a fatal shooting in August 2022 at a petrol station in Los Angeles, where a car carrying Rondo, whose real name is Tyquian Bowman, was fired upon. Bowman was not hurt, but his cousin Saviay'a Robinson, who was also in the car, was killed.
Federal prosecutors said Banks plotted to kill Bowman in retaliation for the earlier murder of Chicago OTF rapper King Von, who was signed to OTF. Von was killed in 2020 during an early-morning exchange of gunfire in Atlanta.
A friend of Bowman was charged with King Von's murder, but the charges were later dropped. Bowman was not arrested or charged.
Authorities said Banks made it known that he would "pay a bounty" to anyone who killed Bowman. Prosecutors argued that Banks felt pressure on social media to avenge Von's death.
Banks founded OTF in 2010. He won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance for his single "All My Life" featuring J Cole. He has also been nominated for a Grammy three other times.