Rapper Lil Durk acquitted of murder-for-hire at Los Angeles trial

A federal jury in Los Angeles concluded on Friday that rapper Lil Durk, 33, was not guilty of the attempted murder-for-hire of fellow rapper Quando Rondo at a gas station, an incident that resulted in the death of Rondo's cousin, Saviay'a Robinson. The jury deliberated for three days before delivering the verdict. Durk, a Grammy-winning Chicago hip-hop artist, was charged with conspiracy, stalking resulting in death, and murder for hire.

Rondo had been fatally shot by one of Rondo's entourage members at an Atlanta nightclub in 2020, following the death of Durk's close friend, King Von, in the same year. Durk supporters, including artists Machine Gun Kelly and Kanye West, were in the audience during the trial. His co-defendants, Deandre Wilson and David Lindsey, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit stalking, stalking using a dangerous weapon, and stalking resulting in death, but were acquitted of murder for hire.

Durk's attorneys expressed gratitude for the jury's decision and confidence that the remaining counts would be overturned on a forthcoming motion for acquittal. The remaining trial on a racketeering count was separated from this case. Durk remained in custody pending the new trial.