Chicago rapper Lil Durk, widely recognized for collaborations with top artists like Drake, is now linked to a second murder-for-hire plot in as many months. Newly unsealed court documents suggest a connection between the rapper and the 2022 murder of Stephon Mack, who was gunned down outside the Youth Peace Center of Roseland.
Although Durk, whose real name is Durk Devontay Banks, has not been charged in Mack’s killing, FBI investigators tied him to the case through texts, phone records, and social media posts involving the suspects. One message reportedly asked, “Did Durk give U that money?” Authorities allege that Mack’s murder was a revenge act related to the killing of Durk’s brother.
Mack was fatally shot on January 7, 2022, in a targeted attack that also injured a security guard. Two men, Anthony Montgomery-Wilson and Preston Powell, were indicted for the murder last year.
This new case surfaces just weeks after Durk was implicated in another murder-for-hire plot involving a failed shooting of fellow rapper Quando Rondo in Los Angeles on August 18, 2022. Authorities believe this incident was retaliation for the death of OTF rapper King Von, a close associate of Durk who was killed in Atlanta.
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In the failed attack on Rondo, whose real name is Tyquian Bowman, the gunfire instead claimed the life of Rondo’s cousin, Saviay’a Robinson. Investigators allege Durk placed a “bounty” on Rondo in connection to Von’s death.
Durk has denied all allegations, pleading not guilty in the earlier case and currently seeking bond. He has yet to comment on the latest allegations publicly, but his legal team is expected to fight any attempts to formally link him to Mack’s murder.
These cases highlight the intersection of hip-hop culture and violent street conflicts, an issue that continues to trouble the music industry. For Durk, one of Chicago’s most prominent rappers, these accusations could mark a significant turning point in his career and public image.
As the investigations unfold, both cases are expected to garner extensive media attention, raising questions about accountability, the influence of rap culture, and the broader implications for the communities these artists represent.
