Lil Durk Faces Federal Murder For Hire Trial in Los Angeles

Federal prosecutors launched opening statements on August 24, 2026, in Los Angeles against Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk, alleging he orchestrated a 2022 murder-for-hire plot targeting rival rapper Quando Rondo that resulted in the death of Rondo's cousin.

Durk Devontay Banks faces three federal counts, including conspiracy, using interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death, and weapons offenses that carry a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison. Prosecutors allege the ambush near the Beverly Center mall was retaliation for the 2020 killing of Banks' close friend, Chicago rapper King Von, following a dispute in Atlanta.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Weiner argued to jurors that Banks funded and directed the retaliatory strike using his wealth. Prosecutors also plan to introduce phone records, photographs, cooperating witnesses, and song lyrics to prove motive and intent.

"This is a case about revenge, stalking and pre-meditated murder," Weiner said. "It was defendant Banks’ beef, it was defendant Banks’ money, it was defendant Banks’ hitmen."

Weiner clarified that while Banks built a prominent career as a musician, the criminal charges center entirely on his alleged violent conduct.

"is not about music. It is about murder," Weiner said. Banks "used his wealth and used his purse strings" to seek revenge.

Defense attorney Marissa Goldberg rejected the prosecution's claims, asserting that former personal assistant Kavon Grant acted independently to arrange transportation, hotels, and ski masks before framing Banks to secure a favorable plea deal.

"Mr. Banks had nothing to do with it," Goldberg said. "He was not there, he was not connected to it."

Goldberg emphasized the absence of direct financial records linking her client to the hitmen.

"This is a murder-for-hire allegation where nobody gets paid," Goldberg said. "There is no evidence because that evidence against Mr. Banks does not exist."

Addressing the rap lyrics cited by the prosecution, Goldberg argued that artistic expression should not be equated to criminal confession.

"That was a channeling of emotions through his artwork," Goldberg said. "This is art, this is performance, this is what he did for a living."

Federal prosecutors argued in pre-trial motions that rap tracks such as Banks' 2022 single "Pissed Me Off" contained coded messages directing violence against rivals.

"Told me they got an addy (go, go) Got location (go, go) Green light (go, go, go, go, go) Look on the news and see your son, You screamin’, “No, no” (pussy)" federal prosecutors cited from the song lyrics.

Federal prosecutors also sought to enter media commentary as evidence to establish public pressure surrounding the feud.

"What is Durk doing [to avenge Von's death]? He's not doing shit!" 6ix9ine said during an August 2021 interview on Off the Record.

U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald subsequently ruled that the interview excerpt would be admitted into evidence for the trial. Co-defendants David Lindsey and Deondre Wilson remain on trial alongside Banks, while several alleged co-conspirators have secured plea agreements to testify for the government.