Lil Durk Accused of Ordering Hit on Quando Rondo in Revenge Plot

Federal prosecutors have stated that rapper Lil Durk, whose real name is Durk Banks, initiated a plot to murder rival Quando Rondo as retribution for the killing of fellow artist King Von. This claim was made on the opening day of Durk's murder-for-hire trial.

The trial, which commenced in a Los Angeles federal courthouse, centers on accusations that Durk instructed his Only the Family (OTF) label associates to kill Rondo. This alleged directive followed the 2020 murder of King Von. Quando Rondo survived a shooting at a Los Angeles gas station in 2022, though another individual, known as Lul Pab, was killed in the incident. Durk and several others face charges including conspiracy, stalking, and murder-for-hire.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Weiner informed the jury that Durk financed flights for numerous OTF members from Chicago to Los Angeles with the intention of them locating, pursuing, and harming Rondo. Weiner asserted that "Mr. Banks used his wealth and used his purse strings to put pressure on his OTF members to get that revenge."

The prosecution plans to present evidence such as surveillance footage of the gas station shooting, text messages, and even Durk's rap lyrics. Three cooperating witnesses who have pleaded guilty are expected to testify against Durk. These include two alleged shooters, Kacey "OTF Jam" and Keith "Flacka" Jones, along with Kavon "Vonnie" Grant, whom prosecutors describe as Durk's "right-hand man" and who allegedly secured stolen vehicles and firearms for the crime.

Durk has consistently denied any involvement since his arrest in 2024. His defense attorney, Marissa Goldberg, argued in her opening statement that Durk had no connection to the shooting and that no evidence demonstrates he paid for a hit. Goldberg suggested that Vonnie was the true mastermind, being King Von's lifelong friend and the one who drove Von to the hospital after he was shot. She contended that Vonnie had access to Durk's credit cards due to his work for OTF, providing him with a convenient scapegoat when apprehended by law enforcement.

"He thought, ‘Oh man, I’ve got an insurance policy,’" Goldberg stated, characterizing Vonnie's decision to implicate Durk as giving authorities "a big fish."

Goldberg also urged the jury to disregard the rap lyrics and music videos presented as evidence, which prosecutors claim illustrate Durk's desire to avenge Von's death. For instance, in the song "Ahhh Ha," Durk raps, "Don’t respond to s–t with Von/ I’m like, ‘f–k it, you trippin’, go get your gun’/ They droppin’ locations, I’m gettin’ it done/ F–k tweetin’, we slidin’, the feds are comin’." Goldberg argued that while Durk was affected by Von's death, like his community, these lyrics represented him "challenging his emotions through his artwork" and expressing the community's feelings, rather than a criminal intent or a plan for revenge. She emphasized, "This is art. This is performance. This is what he did for a living."

Also on trial with Durk are David "Browneyez" Lindsey, accused of firing shots at Rondo, and Deandre "OTF Dede" Wilson, who allegedly was in one of the getaway cars. Both men deny the charges.

Lindsey's attorney argued that there is no evidence of him orchestrating the conspiracy or receiving any financial benefit. Wilson's attorney claimed he was merely a passenger who was "trapped" into being present at the crime scene, having traveled to Los Angeles for what he believed was a music opportunity with the OTF label.

A fourth individual charged in the case, Asa "OTF Boogie" Houston, maintains his innocence and will be tried separately at a later date.

The trial is anticipated to last several weeks. If convicted on all counts, Durk and his co-defendants could face life imprisonment.