Lil Durk Acquitted in Murder-For-Hire Trial as Hip-Hop Reacts to Verdict
Grammy-winning Chicago rapper Lil Durk, legal name Durk Banks, was found not guilty on Friday, September 11, 2026, by a Los Angeles federal jury on all five counts of murder-for-hire, stalking, and conspiracy.
Federal Jury Clears Lil Durk on Murder-for-Hire Counts
Following the verdict, the 33-year-old artist issued a statement via Instagram thanking his legal team, family, and supporters while remaining in custody ahead of a separate racketeering trial slated to begin on October 5, 2026. The high-stakes federal trial concluded after a Los Angeles jury deliberated for three days. Durk faced the possibility of spending the rest of his life behind bars for charges stemming from an alleged 2022 plot targeting rival rapper Quando Rondo at a Los Angeles gas station. That incident resulted in the fatal shooting of Rondo’s 24-year-old cousin, Saviay’a Robinson.
Star-Studded Courtroom Scenes and Co-Defendant Verdicts
Despite escaping the murder-for-hire convictions, the legal battle for the Chicago drill pioneer is far from resolved.
The hip-hop community mobilized around the courtroom. Music stars like Ye and Machine Gun Kelly attended proceedings in downtown Los Angeles, and supporters donned “Free Durk” merchandise. Meanwhile, prosecutors secured convictions against co-defendants Deandre Wilson and David Lindsey. Court records detail that Wilson and Lindsey were found guilty of stalking resulting in death and conspiracy, though they were similarly acquitted of the core murder-for-hire charge.
Upcoming October Racketeering Trial Looms Large
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli confirmed in a public statement that prosecutors remain focused on the upcoming proceedings.
Durk remains incarcerated at a federal holding facility, awaiting an October 5 trial date for a severed racketeering charge accusing him of operating his Only The Family (OTF) record label as a violent criminal enterprise tied to a 2022 shooting. Until that judicial hurdle clears, the cultural rallying cry of “Free Durk” remains active across streaming platforms, social media, and industry boardrooms alike.
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