Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk has been acquitted of all charges in a federal murder-for-hire case linked to a 2022 shooting in Los Angeles that killed the cousin of rival rapper Quando Rondo.

A Los Angeles jury found the rapper, whose real name is Durk Devontay Banks, not guilty of all five federal felony counts after three days of deliberations.

Prosecutors had accused Banks of organising and financing a revenge plot targeting Tyquian Bowman, known professionally as Quando Rondo, following the 2020 killing of Banks’ close friend, rapper Dayvon “King Von” Bennett.

The alleged attack took place on August 19, 2022, when gunmen ambushed Bowman in Los Angeles. His 24-year-old cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, was killed in the shooting.

Banks’ defence team denied that he was involved in the alleged plot. His lawyers argued that his former personal assistant, Kavon Grant, was responsible for arranging the intended attack.

Banks was arrested in 2024 and pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy, stalking with a dangerous weapon, stalking resulting in death and two murder-for-hire-related offences.

His co-defendants, Deandre Dontrell Wilson and David Brian Lindsey, were convicted of stalking and conspiracy to commit stalking but acquitted of the remaining charges.

Supporters cheered outside the Los Angeles courthouse after Friday’s verdict. Defence lawyer Drew Findling said Banks was “thankful” following the acquittal.

The 33-year-old rapper has had seven albums reach the top five of the US Billboard chart since 2019 and has collaborated with artists including Drake and J. Cole.

Despite his acquittal in the murder-for-hire case, Banks remains in custody pending a separate federal trial scheduled for next month on racketeering, murder and firearms charges. A conviction on all counts in that case could result in a life sentence.