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Grammy-winning rapper Durk Devontay Banks, popularly known as Lil Durk, has been acquitted of all charges in a federal murder-for-hire case linked to a 2022 shooting in Los Angeles that claimed the life of the cousin of rival rapper Quando Rondo.

A Los Angeles jury found the rapper not guilty on all five federal felony counts following three days of deliberations.

Lil Durk had been accused of masterminding a revenge operation targeting Tyquian Bowman, an Atlanta rapper professionally known as Quando Rondo, following the 2020 killing of Banks’ close associate, Dayvon “King Von” Bennett.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Banks organised, instructed and funded the operation aimed at killing Bowman.

However, the alleged operation instead led to the death of Bowman’s 24-year-old cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, who was killed during a daytime ambush in Los Angeles on August 19, 2022.

Durk’s defence team denied that he had any involvement in the alleged plot, arguing that his former personal assistant, Kavon Grant, arranged the intended attack.

He was arrested in 2024 and pleaded not guilty to charges that included conspiracy, stalking with a dangerous weapon, stalking resulting in death and two counts connected to murder-for-hire.

His co-defendants, Deandre Dontrell Wilson and David Brian Lindsey, were found guilty of stalking and conspiracy to commit stalking but were cleared of the remaining charges.

Following the verdict, supporters celebrated outside the Los Angeles courthouse.

Defence lawyer Drew Findling said Banks was “thankful” following the acquittal.

The 33-year-old rapper has recorded seven albums that reached the top five of the US Billboard chart since 2019 and has worked with artists such as Drake and J. Cole on hit songs.

Despite Friday’s acquittal, Banks remains in custody ahead of a separate federal trial scheduled for next month involving racketeering, murder and firearms charges.

If he is convicted on all the charges in the second case, he could face a life sentence.

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