Los Angeles federal jury acquits Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk in murder-for-hire case
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Set us as preferred A federal jury acquitted Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk in a murder-for-hire trial that has drawn celebrities, fans and content creators to a downtown Los Angeles courthouse.The Chicago rapper, whose given name is Durk Banks, was found not guilty found of all three charges he faced: conspiracy, stalking resulting in death and murder for hire.Prosecutors alleged that Banks dispatched hit men to target rapper Quando Rondo, born Tyquian Bowman, for revenge after the death of a close friend.Instead of killing Bowman, prosecutors said, the hit men fatally shot Bowman’s cousin Saviay’a Robinson, 24, in a botched ambush near the bustling Beverly Center on a summer day in 2022.Deandre Wilson and David Lindsey, who prosecutors alleged was one of the shooters, were on trial alongside Banks.
The two men were convicted on the charges of conspiracy to commit stalking, stalking using a dangerous weapon and stalking resulting in death, but were acquitted on the murder-for-hire charges.Wilson’s attorney argued that he was just a “passenger” in the car the shooters emerged from to commmit murder.
Banks, who was in a tan suit and brown tie, appeared nervous ahead of the verdict being read, swaying back and forth and at times swiveling in his chair.As the verdict was read on each of the counts, Banks kept his head down.
When the clerk read “not guilty,” Banks began wiping away tears.More than 60 people had packed into the courtroom.Several more who had been lined up outside were not allowed in.
U.S.District Judge Michael W.
Fitzgerald warned the gallery to “maintain decorum” stating that the verdicts would be a “moment of either joy or grief.”“Restrain yourselves as the verdicts are read,” he said.The packed gallery mostly maintained decorum, letting out a clap when a “not guilty” was read f...