Federal prosecutors have officially ruled out seeking the death penalty for rapper Lil Durk in his ongoing murder-for-hire case.
Court documents filed Monday (June 2) reveal that the U.S. Attorney General has directed the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California not to pursue capital punishment against the 32-year-old Chicago artist, born Durk Banks. The decision comes just months before Durk is set to stand trial.
The rapper was arrested in October 2024 and charged in connection with the 2022 murder of Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson—cousin of fellow rapper Quando Rondo—during what prosecutors allege was a failed hit on Rondo himself. The ambush took place at a gas station in Beverly Hills, California, where Lul Pab was fatally shot. Authorities claim Durk orchestrated the attack by paying five men to carry out the killing.
Durk faces serious federal charges, including use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime resulting in death. While the death penalty is off the table, he still faces a potential life sentence if convicted.
As the trial approaches, Durk has repeatedly attempted to secure bond, but each request has been denied. His legal team’s most recent proposal included over $1.9 million in combined cash, real estate equity, and third-party guarantees, alongside offers of strict home confinement and round-the-clock surveillance. A judge ultimately rejected the package.
Durk, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, remains in custody at the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center. Originally set to begin in January, his trial is now scheduled to start on October 14, 2025.
