What we know about suspected contract killing

Topline

Chicago rapper Lil Durk has been indicted by a grand jury on two new felony charges in connection with an alleged murder plot against rapper Quando Rondo, a California federal court said Friday. If Lil Durk does this, he could face a life sentence.

Important facts

What you should pay attention to

Lil Durk is expected to be arraigned in federal court in Los Angeles “in the coming weeks,” the court said in a statement.

Important background

According to an indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, prosecutors allege Lil Durk and five co-defendants – Kavon London Grant, Deandre Dontrell Wilson, Keith Jones, David Brian Lindsey and Asa Houston – conspired to kill rapper Quando Rondo in 2022 to kill in retaliation for an altercation between his crew and King Von's crew in 2020, which resulted in a shootout in which King Von was killed. Quando Rondo's partner Timothy “Lul Tim” Leeks was eventually charged with murder. Prosecutors say the men traveled to Los Angeles to shoot Quando Rondo in his car, but their shots instead killed his cousin Saviay'a Robinson, known as Lul Pab, who was a passenger in the vehicle. Lawyers for the five men arrested in Chicago declined to comment to Forbes.

Quando Rondo releases “Life Goes On” – obvious reaction to murder

Quando Rondo released a new song titled “Life Goes On,” which apparently references the murder of his cousin and laments violence in hip-hop. “I have scars from all the losses on the road. I never thought I’d see your name next to RIP,” he raps. “We didn't get into this music industry just to get caught up in this street shit,” he said in a statement on Instagram, adding that he forgives those he “had and still has” problems with in the past. I pray for everyone,” although he didn’t mention Lil Durk or Only The Family by name.

Lil Durk's donation to Chicago Mayor Johnson's campaign is under review

Lil Durk's financial contribution to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has also come under scrutiny. The rapper donated $150,000 to the mayor's campaign last year, although the mayor declined to tell reporters over the weekend whether he would keep the money or return it. The Chicago Tribune editorial board called on the mayor in an editorial Monday to return the money, urging him to “move away from this public relations nightmare as quickly as possible and do it as quickly as possible,” officials in Broadview said , a Chicago suburb, Lil Durk revoked the key to the city that had been given to him a week before his arrest in honor of his nonprofit youth organization Neighborhood Heroes. Pulse Ghana, a Ghanaian news outlet, reported that fans protested in the streets for Lil Durk's freedom on Monday, wearing T-shirts with Only The Family logos.

What happened to King Von?

King Von, whose real name is Dayvon Daquan Bennett, was shot and killed outside a hookah lounge in Atlanta in the early hours of November 6, 2020. Local police said King Von's group was involved in a dispute with another group led by Quando Rondo, and the “quarrel quickly escalated into gunfire” around 3:20 a.m., with six people shot and two killed. Surveillance footage released by TMZ appeared to show King Von Quando throwing punches at Rondo and his crew. Unnamed sources were quoted as saying that King Von's crew approached Quando Rondo while he was sleeping in his car. Two weeks after the shooting, Quando Rondo released a song called “End of Story” that appeared to address his role in the incident. He claimed the shooting was “self-defense” and rapped, “He never should have gotten his hands on me, look at the footage, that's all the proof.”

Who is Lil Durk?

Lil Durk is a rapper from Chicago who founded the group Only The Family in 2010, with whom he has released six albums. King Von was a member of Only The Family before his assassination. Lil Durk had his breakthrough in the 2010s after signing with Def Jam Records and releasing the albums Remember My Name in 2015 and Lil Durk 2X in 2016. He later signed with Alamo Records and received his first Grammy nominations for “Laugh Now.” Cry Later,” a collaboration with Drake, in 2021. He reached the top of the Billboard 200 for the first time in 2022 with “7220” and released his biggest hit, “All My Life,” his Grammy-winning collaboration with J. Cole. in 2023.

Surprising fact

Prior to his arrest, Lil Durk was promoting his upcoming album, Deep Thoughts, due out November 22nd. He released several new songs in October, including “Late Checkout,” which he released two weeks ago.

Further reading

Five in Chicago charged with contract killing in Los Angeles shooting in revenge for killing of rapper King Von (Chicago Tribune)

Quando Rondo talks about the fatal shooting of King Von in “End of Story” (Complex).