Lil Durk has been acquitted of charges revolving around a murder-for-hire plot. The incident took place in 2022, when a failed scheme targeting rapper Quando Rondo left his cousin dead via shooting.
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According to The Associated Press, "The jury deliberated for three days before acquitting Lil Durk, the 33-year-old Grammy-winning Chicago hip-hop artist best known for the 2023 hit "All My Life," of conspiracy, stalking resulting in death and murder for hire."
However, unlike Durk, his co-defendants, Deandre Wilson and David Lindsey, were convicted of multiple charges. Those charges included "conspiracy to commit stalking, stalking using a dangerous weapon, and stalking resulting in death," per the Associated Press. It's important to note that both Wilson and Lindsey were also acquitted of murder-for-hire.
The court case, which took place in Los Angeles, saw multiple A-List musicians appear in the audience throughout the trial. Machine Gun Kelly and Kanye West were both present at times during the trial. Furthermore, crowds of people, including fans of Lil Durk and countless content creators, also gathered outside the courthouse at times.
Durk's acquittal shouldn't come as a surprise. He has long stated his innocence, including pleading not guilty during the trial itself. His defense has previously stressed that he had no involvement in any murder-for-hire plot.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli Released a Statement Over Lil Durk's Co-Defendants
Following the acquittal of both Lindsey and Wilson for the murder-for-hire charge, Bill Essayli, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney, released a statement to the Associated Press.
"Today, the jury delivered justice to the family of Saviay'a Robinson, finding defendants Deandre Wilson and David Lindsey guilty of stalking resulting in Mr. Robinson's death," Essayli said. "While we are disappointed with the jury's decision regarding Durk Banks, a.k.a. 'Lil Durk,' we look forward to presenting our evidence at his second trial."
Lil Durk's attorney, Drew Findling, also released a statement after the verdict was made public.
"And now we work to ... pull the shackles off," Findling said, via PEOPLE. "The shackles must come off, and he must walk free, so he can come home to his beautiful family and to the world that loves him."
Unfortunately for Durk, he still isn't a free man. He remains in custody awaiting a second trial, which has been scheduled for October 5. He's facing charges of federal racketeering and a firearms charge. If found guilty on all counts, he could face a life sentence.
