Lil Durk’s lawyers told jurors yesterday that federal prosecutors had built a murder-for-hire case on unreliable cooperators. At the same time, the government argued the rapper was the man who set the deadly plot in motion.
The dueling closing arguments came on the 13th day of Durk’s trial in Los Angeles.
Prosecutor Ian Yanniello said Durk, born Durk Banks, sought “revenge for a fallen gang member” after the 2020 killing of King Von and accused him of using “his money, his power, and his influence” to target Quando Rondo, per Rolling Stone.
Durk’s defense team said the evidence fell far short.
“This case is flooded. It is a tsunami of reasonable doubt,” attorney Drew Findling told the jury. Co-counsel Brian Steel also attacked the credibility of three cooperating witnesses who pleaded guilty and testified for the government.
Prosecutors claim members and associates of Durk’s Only The Family collective flew from Chicago to Los Angeles in August 2022, followed Quando Rondo around the city and opened fire near the Beverly Center.
Quando Rondo, whose real name is Tyquian Bowman, survived. His cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, known as Lul Pab, was killed.
The government also showed jurors travel records, surveillance images, texts, and video that prosecutors said connected Durk to the alleged plot.
“The only verdict is not guilty of all charges,” Findling added.
