Lil Durk Trial Week 1 Recap: Flipped OTF Crew Member Calls Quando Rondo Shooting ‘Sloppy’
Lil Durk’s federal murder-for-hire trial began in Los Angeles with prosecutors alleging he ordered members of his Only the Family crew to kill rapper Quando Rondo in revenge for King Von’s 2020 death. Rondo survived the 2022 shooting, but a bystander known as Lul Pab was killed; Durk denies involvement, while his lawyers argue a cooperating witness was the true organiser and is blaming him to secure leniency.
The first week featured surveillance footage, messages Durk sent after Von’s death and an unreleased video prosecutors say shows his alleged motive, though the defence described his music as artistic expression. Former OTF member Kacey “OTF Jam” Hester, who admitted taking part in the attack, called it “sloppy” and said Durk had offered a large reward, allegedly unpaid; Hester said he instead received $10,000 to record a song with Durk. Two alleged participants, David Lindsey and Deandre Wilson, are also on trial.
- Prosecutors say Durk ordered revenge shooting of Quando Rondo.
- Defence denies Durk’s involvement and challenges the cooperating witness.
- Ex-OTF member testified the operation was “sloppy”.
New here? Start with this
Only the Family, or OTF, is a group and music label associated with rapper Lil Durk. In 2020, rapper King Von was killed in Atlanta after a fight involving people connected to Quando Rondo; Rondo was not charged in Von’s death. Two years later, Rondo survived a shooting in Los Angeles, while a bystander known as Lul Pab was killed.
US prosecutors allege Durk arranged the attack on Rondo as revenge for Von’s death, and that OTF members carried it out. Durk denies involvement, and his lawyers say a cooperating witness organised the attack and is accusing him to seek a reduced sentence. Hester, who has admitted participating, is one of the witnesses; Lindsey and Wilson are also defendants in the case.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Prosecutors’ case is that the attack was a revenge killing arranged by Durk: they point to the alleged reward, messages and video they say show motive, and testimony from Hester, who admitted taking part. If corroborated, that evidence could support the claim that Durk used his crew to target Rondo, with the bystander’s death showing the wider consequences.
The case against
Durk’s lawyers argue that Hester, a participant seeking leniency, has reason to shift blame and that a cooperating witness was the true organiser. They also contend that messages and music, including the unreleased video, do not establish that Durk ordered a killing; artistic expression and circumstantial evidence alone may not prove his involvement beyond reasonable doubt.