American rapper Lil Durk, whose real name is Devontay Banks, is facing another legal battle.
According to legal documents obtained by the Chicago Tribune, the 28-year-old rapper has been linked to a 2022 murder case in Chicago.
The investigation arose from the fatal shooting of Stephon Mack, an alleged gang leader, outside a Chicago youth center in 2022.
Authorities allege that Durk orchestrated the shooting to exact revenge on the Gangster Disciples street gang, which was reportedly responsible for the murder of Durk’s brother, Dontay Banks, in 2021.
A federal agent stated in a warrant application that “Lil Durk was and still is offering money for people to kill those responsible for his brother’s murder, and more specifically, offering to pay money for any Gangster Disciple that is killed.” Although Durk has not been charged in the Mack murder investigation, which is still “open and active,” the Chicago rapper is facing unrelated federal charges.
In October, Durk was arrested for his alleged involvement in a murder-for-hire scheme. Prosecutors claim that Durk had put a hit on fellow rapper Quando Rondo in response to King Von’s 2020 killing. The ambush resulted in the death of Rondo’s cousin.
Durk has been charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of use of interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death, and one count of using, carrying, and discharging firearms and a machine gun and possession of such firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death.
United States Attorney Martin Estrada stated, “Mr. Banks is charged with orchestrating a cold-blooded murder that resulted in the death of a rival’s family member. Not only that, the shooting occurred in the open, at a gas station at a busy intersection, endangering many others in the area. Violent gun crime of this sort is devastating to our community, and we will have zero tolerance for those who perpetrate such callous acts of violence.”
Durk has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges.
