An emotional Lil Durk broke down in court Friday as a federal jury in Los Angeles found him not guilty on all counts in his federal murder-for-hire trial.
Dressed in a tan suit with his hair cut short, the Chicago hip-hop star began to openly weep after the verdict was read.
The rapper’s family members, his fans and reporters filled the packed courtroom.
Related: Lil Durk’s Attorney Confident After Day 2 of Deliberations
Defense attorneys Drew Findling and Brian Steel were cheered by a crowd of about 100 fans as the high-profile lawyers walked outside the courthouse.
Steel declined to speak to reporters, but lead attorney Findling offered his thoughts before taking pictures with fans.
“They tried to break him, take him and keep him down, and what happened today? He was found not guilty of all charges,” Findling said, noting that he was borrowing from Lil Durk’s lyrics.
The attorney stood next to the Grammy-winning rapper’s father, Dontay Banks Sr., and added: “We are so proud and elated… you all do not know the work that has gone into this. Thousands of jail calls — we have put in endless effort to fight for this young man, and not just for the words ‘not guilty,’ but his innocence.”
The trial began on Aug. 20, 2026. The case went to the jury at the end of the day on Tuesday of this week. Jurors deliberated all day Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with the verdict being read today at 4:59 p.m. PT.
The 33-year-old rapper, whose legal name is Durk Banks, had been charged with orchestrating a plot to kill rival rapper Quando Rondo, whose legal name is Tyquian Bowman.
Banks faced multiple counts, including conspiracy to use interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death as well as stalking resulting in death.
Bowman escaped the ambush unharmed at a gas station near the Beverly Center in Los Angeles in August 2022. But his cousin, Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson, was fatally shot as gunmen opened fire on the Black Cadillac Escalade they were riding in.
Federal authorities alleged the shooting was carried out in retaliation for the killing of Banks’ close friend and fellow rapper Dayvon “King Von” Bennett.
The other two defendants in the case — David Lindsey and Deondre Wilson — were both convicted on multiple counts Friday.
While Banks prevailed, his legal troubles are not over. He will remain in custody pending a second trial on a racketeering count.
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