LOS ANGELES — A federal jury on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, acquitted Grammy-winning Chicago rapper Lil Durk (legal name Durk Banks), 33, of conspiracy, murder for hire, and stalking resulting in death in the August 2022 Los Angeles gas-station ambush near the Beverly Center that killed Saviay’a Robinson — known as Lul Pab — the cousin of rival rapper Quando Rondo (Tyquian Bowman), the Associated Press reported.

Jurors deliberated for three days after a roughly two-week trial in downtown Los Angeles before clearing Durk on all counts in the murder-for-hire case. Co-defendants Deandre “OTF Dede” Wilson and David “Browneyez” Lindsey were also acquitted of murder for hire but convicted of conspiracy to commit stalking, stalking using a dangerous weapon, and stalking resulting in death, according to AP, Reuters, and BBC News.

Prosecutors alleged Durk funded a revenge plot after King Von — a close friend and Only The Family (OTF) associate — was killed in Atlanta in 2020 by someone from Rondo’s entourage. In their account, men flown to Los Angeles with funds tied to Durk followed Rondo’s crew and opened fire on an Escalade near the Beverly Center; Rondo survived, but Robinson, 24, was killed. Durk has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has been jailed since his 2024 arrest.

Defense lawyers argued Durk had nothing to do with the plot. Reuters, citing Los Angeles City News Service coverage of the trial, reported the defense maintained a former personal assistant ordered the hit to impress his boss. Three co-operating witnesses who reached plea deals — Kavon “OTF Vonnie” Grant, Keith “Flacka” Jones, and Kacey “OTF Jam” Hester — testified for the prosecution, BBC reported.

“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,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement. “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.”

Wilson’s attorney Craig Harbaugh said in an email to AP: “We thank the jury for seeing there was no murder for hire.” He added the defense was “confident the remaining counts will not survive our pending motion for acquittal.” BBC reported defense lawyer Drew Findling said Durk was “thankful” after the verdict. Attorneys for Durk and Lindsey did not immediately respond to AP’s requests for comment.

Durk remains in custody for a severed racketeering and firearms trial scheduled for Oct. 5, 2026, a U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesperson told Reuters. Wilson and Lindsey face the same related counts. Music stars Ye (Kanye West) and Machine Gun Kelly attended parts of the trial; fans, livestreamers, and content creators gathered outside the courthouse, AP said.

Durk won a 2024 Grammy for Best Melodic Rap Performance for “All My Life” featuring J. Cole and has charted repeatedly since 2019, collaborating with artists including Drake.

Sources