In brief
The trial over a 2022 shooting that killed a rival rapper’s cousin concluded with a dramatic verdict: Lil Durk, known for his 2024 Grammy win, was acquitted of murder‑for‑hire charges after a three‑day jury deliberation. The case, tied to the late Chicago rapper King Von, involved claims that Durk posted a bounty on the victim’s killer. Though found not guilty, Durk remains jailed pending a separate federal trial on racketeering and firearms charges. Supporters celebrated the outcome, while federal officials vowed to continue presenting evidence in the forthcoming proceedings.
Chicago rapper Lil Durk has been acquitted of all five federal felony charges that accused him of orchestrating a revenge killing in Los Angeles.
The case stemmed from an August 2022 shooting at a petrol station where the cousin of rival rapper Quando Rondo was killed. Federal prosecutors claimed that Durk offered a bounty to anyone who killed Rondo’s cousin in retaliation for the murder of Chicago rapper King Von.
After a three‑day jury examination, the jury found Durk not guilty of murder‑for‑hire and conspiracy. The verdict comes after Durk’s arrests in 2024 for another shooting incident, but his bond was lifted following the acquittal.
Durk, who has released seven chart‑topting albums since 2019 and won a 2024 Grammy for Best Melodic Rap Performance, remains in custody as he faces a separate federal trial scheduled for 5 October on racketeering, murder, and firearms charges.
Supporters gathered outside the Los Angeles courthouse to welcome the decision, while prosecutors noted that they will present new evidence in the forthcoming case.
