Closing arguments commenced Tuesday in the federal trial of rapper Durk Banks, known professionally as Lil Durk, who faces charges related to a 2022 ambush shooting in Los Angeles that resulted in the death of an unintended victim. Banks, a prominent figure in Chicago’s drill rap scene, pleaded not guilty to five federal counts, including stalking and arranging a murder-for-hire. The trial, which began last month in Los Angeles, centers on allegations that Banks orchestrated the attack as retaliation for the 2020 killing of his close friend, rapper Dayvon Bennett, known as King Von.
Prosecutors contend that Banks, driven by a sense of vengeance following Bennett’s death, financed and coordinated efforts by associates from his Only the Family (O.T.F.) rap collective to target Tyquian Bowman, aka Quando Rondo, who was allegedly linked to Bennett’s murder. The attack, however, resulted in the death of Saviay’a Robinson, Bowman's cousin. The case initially involved five co-defendants, some of whom have since pleaded guilty and provided testimony against Banks. The government’s case relies heavily on these witnesses, including Kavon Grant (OTF Vonnie) and Kacey Hester (OTF Jam), who described their roles in the 2021 and 2022 attacks, respectively.
According to testimony, Banks provided resources such as money, vehicles, and flights to support the retaliatory efforts. Grant testified that Banks offered financial incentives for Bowman's murder, a claim supported by Hester’s account of tracking Bowman’s movements before the fatal ambush at a Los Angeles gas station. Another witness, Keith Jones, stated that Banks had offered a $1 million bounty, which motivated him to travel from Chicago to California. All three indicated that while Banks coordinated the attack, he did not directly participate nor paid out funds for the killing.
Banks, along with two co-defendants—Deandre Dontrell Wilson and David Brian Lindsey—have denied all charges. Their defense attorneys, prominent figures with experience representing high-profile artists, questioned the credibility of cooperating witnesses and emphasized that no payments for the attack were made. The defense also highlighted evidence suggesting Grant had access to Banks’s financial accounts and appeared to exploit their relationship. Defense counsel argued that Grant acted as the principal planner of the shooting and impeached his motives by playing recorded calls showing him treating testimony as an opportunity for personal gain.
The prosecution introduced several of Banks’s song lyrics and music videos as evidence of his mindset and intent, focusing on tracks that reference violence and retaliation following King Von’s death. The court admitted excerpts from songs such as “Pissed Me Off,” “Who Want Smoke??,” and “Ahhh Ha,” as well as an unreleased video showing Banks in a staged shooting, which prosecutors argued reflected his real-life state of mind. Defense attorneys countered that the lyrics were artistic expressions typical of the drill genre and did not constitute direct evidence of criminal intent.
In June, prosecutors expanded the charges to include Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering Activity (VICAR), alleging that Banks, as O.T.F.’s leader, orchestrated multiple violent acts, including the 2021 shooting of Bowman in Georgia and the 2022 murder of Stephon Mack in Chicago. The defense challenged this broader portrayal, asserting the racketeering charges were introduced to compensate for insufficient proof regarding the Los Angeles shooting. A judge later ruled that these racketeering counts would be tried separately.
The trial has drawn notable public attention, with gatherings of fans, social media figures, and musicians, including Ye and Machine Gun Kelly, attending proceedings or showing public support for Banks. The case remains a focal point in ongoing discussions about violence linked to the music industry and gang activity in Chicago.