Grammy-winning US rapper Lil Durk acquitted in murder-for-hire trial

Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk was found not guilty in a federal murder-for-hire trial on Friday, according to prosecutors. The Chicago-based artist, whose real name is Durk Devontay Banks, was accused of orchestrating the shooting death of rapper King Von's cousin, Saviay'a Robinson, in a Los Angeles gas station ambush in August 2022.

Banks, 33, was arrested in 2024 and faced five felony charges, including murder for hire resulting in death and conspiracy. If convicted, he could have faced a life sentence. The rapper was acquitted on all charges, but remains in custody as he awaits a separate trial on October 5th, where he will face racketeering murder and firearms charges.

The three-day jury deliberation followed testimony from three cooperating witnesses, Kavon "OTF Vonnie" Grant, Keith "Flacka" Jones and Kacey "OTF Jam" Hester, who reached plea deals and testified against Banks, his co-defendants Deandre "OTF Dede" Wilson and David "Browneyez" Lindsey, and Robinson's cousin. Banks, who has won seven US Billboard chart-topping albums since 2019 and collaborated with artists like Drake and J Cole, was found not guilty of the murder-for-hire allegations.

He will now face a separate trial on October 5th, where he will be tried on additional charges of racketeering murder and firearms.