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Courtesy Broward County Sheriff’s Office |
Federal prosecutors have confirmed they will not seek the death penalty against Chicago rapper Lil Durk in his ongoing murder-for-hire case connected to a 2022 shooting at a Los Angeles gas station.
Lil Durk, whose legal name is Durk Banks, is accused of orchestrating an attack that allegedly targeted rival rapper Quando Rondo and resulted in the death of Rondo’s cousin, Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson. The alleged hit, according to a federal criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, involved members of Banks’ collective, Only the Family (OTF), tracking and attempting to kill an individual identified as T.B. on Aug. 19, 2022.
Prosecutors allege Banks placed a monetary bounty on the target and directed OTF members to carry out the assault. Surveillance footage and digital evidence reportedly link two vehicles to the coordinated ambush. The attack ultimately led to Robinson’s death, though Rondo survived.
Banks is one of five individuals facing federal charges including murder, murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death. Authorities characterize the alleged scheme as a gang-affiliated retaliation plot carried out across state lines.
In April, Banks’ legal team filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that prosecutors misled the grand jury by implying Banks bragged about the killing in a song. His attorneys noted that the track in question was recorded seven months before the incident and that Banks had no involvement in a later-modified version uploaded to YouTube.
The court has also ruled that lyrics from the song “Wonderful Wayne & Jackie Boy” cannot be used as evidence in the trial, agreeing with defense arguments that the content is not relevant and was recorded prior to the alleged crime.
Additionally, prosecutors have accused Banks of threatening witnesses while in custody, which contributed to a judge's decision to deny bond. A proposed $4.5 million bail package — which included personal funds, real estate assets, and 24/7 monitoring — was rejected. Prosecutors cited concerns over Banks’ behavior behind bars, including alleged misuse of communication systems.
The credibility of the government’s case has been challenged by the defense, who argue that it relies heavily on a paid FBI informant, identified in court documents as "CHS 1," a former gang member with a history of criminal activity. Banks’ attorneys have questioned the reliability of this source and pointed out that he has not been charged in related Illinois cases despite a three-year investigation.
In February 2025, Saviay’a Robinson’s mother filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Banks, seeking civil damages for her son’s killing.
The trial is currently scheduled to begin Oct. 14, 2025. Prosecutors have indicated that the case is unusually complex, involving more than 20,000 pages of documents and over 230 gigabytes of digital evidence.
The federal decision not to pursue the death penalty narrows sentencing possibilities, but Banks still faces life imprisonment if convicted.