Durk “Lil’ Durk” Banks will have to wait an additional nine months for his day in court.
Legal troubles circling the GRAMMY Award winner and his associates date back nearly five years. On November 6, 2020, Dayvon “King Von” Bennett was reportedly shot and killed near Monaco Hookah Lounge in Atlanta, Georgia. An associate of an individual, identified as “T.B.” in court documents, was reportedly responsible for the shooting and a press statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Central District of California claims Lil’ Durk “allegedly put a bounty on T.B.’s life.” in retaliation.
On August 19, 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Central District of California claims several members and associates of Durk’s collective, Only The Family (OTF), tracked, stalked and ultimately murdered an associate of T.B. at a gas station located near the Beverly Center in Los Angeles, California. Authorities allege those involved with the death of T.B.’s associate used money from Lil’ Durk and OTF to ultimately shoot and kill T.B.’s associate Furthermore, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Central District of California alleges an OTF member and close associate of the chart-topping musician coordinated and paid for the travel of those allegedly involved in the death of T.B.’s associate.
On Thursday, October 24, 2024, law enforcement officials in the Chicago, Illinois area arrested four individuals they believe are connected to T.B.’s shooting death including Deandre Dontrell Wilson, Keith Jones, David Brian Lindsey and Asa Houston. Shortly thereafter, the FBI reportedly learned Lil’ Durk had booked an international flight from Miami International Airport. As a result, authorities moved to arrest the rapper near the Miami International Airport before boarding.
“Mr. Banks is charged with orchestrating a cold-blooded murder that resulted in the death of a rival’s family member,” United States Attorney Martin Estrada said.
“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.”
Lil’ Durk previously entered a not guilty please and was originally scheduled to begin trial on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. However, the trial has been delayed until October 14, 2025 because of its “unusual” and “complex” nature.
“[There is] approximately 230 GB of digital evidence such as audio/video recordings and surveillance footage, and approximately 20,000 pages of reports concerning murder and other violent acts, photographs, witness statements, and medical documents,” a court document reads.
“[The case] is so unusual and so complex that it is unreasonable to expect adequate preparation for pretrial proceedings or for the trial itself within the Speedy Trial Act time limits.”
