Lil Durk's murder-for-hire case reaches closing arguments in Los Angeles federal court
Closing arguments began today in the federal trial of rapper Lil Durk, accused of hiring a hit squad that killed a rival’s cousin in 2022.
In a Los Angeles federal courtroom, jurors heard closing arguments in the trial of Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk, whose legal name is Durk Banks. Prosecutors allege that Banks hired a Chicago-based hit crew to travel to California and assassinate rival rapper Tyquian Bowman, aka Quando Rondo, as revenge for the 2020 killing of fellow Chicago artist Dayvon "King Von" Bennett. The planned attack on Aug. 19, 2022, turned deadly when a gunman opened fire at a gas station, killing Bowman’s 24-year-old cousin Saviay'a Robinson while Bowman survived.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Weiner emphasized that the case is about murder, not music, and claimed Banks placed a bounty on Bowman. The defense contends that former personal assistant Kavon Grant independently organized the flight, rentals, and weapons to impress his boss, and that Banks had no involvement. Grant, along with two other associates, testified against Durk after securing plea deals.
All three defendants have maintained not-guilty pleas to charges including conspiracy, stalking with a dangerous weapon, and murder-for-hire, and Durk could receive a life term if convicted. He was arrested in October 2024 near Miami International Airport while allegedly trying to leave the country.
