Grammy-winning US rapper Lil Durk has been acquitted of all charges in a federal murder-for-hire case over a deadly 2022 shooting in Los Angeles.

A jury found the rapper, whose real name is Durk Devontay Banks, not guilty after three days of deliberations.

Banks had faced five felony charges, including murder-for-hire resulting in death and conspiracy. A conviction could have resulted in a life sentence.

His lawyer, Drew Findling, said the rapper was “thankful” following the verdict.

Supporters cheered outside the Los Angeles courthouse after the decision.

The case centred on a shooting at a petrol station in Los Angeles in August 2022. A car carrying rapper Quando Rondo, whose real name is Tyquian Bowman, was targeted in the attack.

Bowman survived the shooting, but his cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, who was also in the vehicle, was killed.

Federal prosecutors accused Banks of organising the attack as revenge for the 2020 killing of Chicago rapper King Von, who was signed to Banks’ Only The Family, or OTF, label.

Prosecutors alleged that Banks made it known he would “pay a bounty” to anyone who killed Bowman, whom they said he blamed for the circumstances surrounding King Von’s death.

A friend of Bowman was charged in connection with King Von’s killing, but those charges were later dropped. Bowman was never arrested or charged over the death.

The prosecution relied on three cooperating witnesses who had reached plea agreements and testified against Banks and his co-defendants.

Two co-defendants, Deandre “OTF Dede” Wilson and David “Browneyez” Lindsey, were also acquitted of the murder-for-hire charges. They were convicted of stalking and conspiracy to commit stalking.

Although Banks was cleared in the case, he remains in custody and is due to face a separate trial on October 5.

That case will involve racketeering, murder and firearms charges.

US prosecutors expressed disappointment with the verdict but said they would continue with the second case.

“While we are disappointed with the jury’s decision regarding Durk Banks, a.k.a. ‘Lil Durk,’ we look forward to presenting our evidence at his second trial,” First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said.

Banks, 33, has released seven albums that reached the top five of the US Billboard chart since 2019. He has also collaborated with artists including Drake and J Cole.

He founded OTF in 2010 and won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance for “All My Life”, featuring J Cole. He has received three other Grammy nominations. (Arise News)