A federal jury has acquitted rapper Lil Durk of plotting the murder of Georgia artist Quando Rondo. Durk has been held in federal custody since his 2024 arrest on charges of conspiracy to use interstate facilities to facilitate a murder-for-hire resulting in death. Meanwhile, his co-defendants, Deandre Wilson and David Lindsay, were convicted of stalking and conspiracy to stalk, while being cleared of the remaining charges.
Prosecutors alleged that Durk conspired with a group of five associates affiliated with his Only the Family (OTF) collective to orchestrate an attack on Bowman, whose birth name is Tyquian Bowman. The alleged motive was retaliation for the 2020 murder of Durk’s close friend, King Von. Timothy “Lul Timm” Leeks, identified by prosecutors as an associate of Bowman, was initially charged with Von’s murder, though those charges were ultimately dismissed.
According to the federal indictment, Durk allegedly outlined plans to offer a bounty for Bowman’s death. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on testimony from Durk’s associates, who had initially been charged as co-defendants before agreeing to plead guilty. The government also attempted to introduce Durk’s song lyrics as evidence, a strategy widely criticized by artists and First Amendment advocates. However, Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald permitted the admission of certain lyrics that referenced Durk’s mental state following Von’s death.
Kavon Grant, also known as OTF Vonnie, testified that Durk had promised monetary compensation for the murder. Conversely, Durk’s defense team argued that Grant was the actual mastermind behind the shooting and that the government’s case depended on cooperators seeking to avoid life sentences. Kacey Hester, aka OTF Jam, testified that he was part of the group that followed Bowman before ambushing him at a gas station. During the altercation, they mistakenly shot and killed Bowman’s cousin, Saviay’a Tilal “Lul Pab” Robinson. “It’s Durk’s fault,” Hester testified. “Durk put us in the situation.”
This story is developing…
Also Read
- Judge Signals Sam Smith and Normani Copyright Case Over “Dancing With a Stranger” Will Proceed
- The Toxic Lie at Ground Zero: 25 Years Later, the Truth Is Still Being Uncovered
- The Complete Soundtrack of Practical Magic 2: Every Track from the Sequel
- Justin Vernon Scores a Jingle for Howards Bar’s Meatloaf Dippers
