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

Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk was acquitted on Friday in a federal murder-for-hire case, according to prosecutors. The Chicago-based artist was accused of orchestrating the revenge killing of Tyquian Bowman, a cousin of rival rapper Quando Rondo, who was shot dead in a Los Angeles petrol station in August 2022. However, on Friday, a jury found Durk not guilty of all charges, including murder for hire and conspiracy, after three days of deliberation.

If convicted, he could have faced a life sentence. The verdict came following the arrest of the rapper in 2024.

During the trial, two co-defendants, Deandre "OTF Dede" Wilson and David "Browneyez" Lindsey, were convicted of stalking and conspiracy to commit stalking but acquitted of murder-for-hire charges. The case relied on three co-operating witnesses, Kavon "OTF Vonnie" Grant, Keith "Flacka" Jones, and Kacey "OTF Jam" Hester, who reached plea deals and testified against Banks, Wilson, and Lindsey.

The alleged motive behind the murder-for-hire was retaliation for the 2020 killing of Chicago OTF rapper King Von, who was signed to Lil Durk's record label OTF. According to federal prosecutors, Banks had offered a "bounty" to anyone who killed Bowman. Rondo was not arrested or charged, and the authorities stated that Banks had made it clear that he would pay a bounty for Bowman's death.

Despite being acquitted of the charges in this case, Durk remains in custody and faces a separate trial on October 5, where he will face racketeering murder and firearms charges. His defense team, led by Drew Findling, expressed disappointment with the jury's decision but stated they would present their evidence at the upcoming trial.