In news that’s still sending shockwaves across the music industry, GRAMMY-nominated rapper Lil Durk was arrested in Florida on Thursday night (October 24) on federal charges that he was the mastermind behind and financier of a plot to murder fellow emcee Quando Rondo in 2022.

The foiled scheme resulted in the death of Rondo’s cousin.

According to FBI details released on Friday (October 25), five other members of Durk’s Chicago-based Rap collective OTF (Only the Family) have been arrested in connection to the crime with more possibly on the way.

Despite reports Durk is being held without bail, fans have rallied behind the hitmaker in a show of support to demand his freedom.

The “Free Durk” movement rages on social media as new details about the rapper (born Durk Devontay Banks) and his alleged murder-for-hire plot unfold.

According to FBI report, Banks’ intention to kill Rondo was an attempt to avenge the death of late OTF rapper King Von (born Dayvon Daquan Bennett) who was slain after a fight with Rondo reportedly led to Quando’s friend shooting Bennett several times and killing him.

Authorities say Durk later made it known that he would “pay a bounty” to anyone who murdered Rondo (born Tyquian Bowman).

This isn’t the first time the father of 10 has been attached to criminal activity.

In 2019, Durk was charged in Atlanta for a drive-by shooting that left a man wounded. Charges were later dropped after he denied his involvement.

Five years prior, he pleaded guilty to felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and felony possession of a firearm after he was seen carrying a gun in a Chicago, Illinois street. He was spared jail time.

Speaking of the Prairie State, Durk had his honorary key to the Village of Broadview rescinded due to his alleged connection to the Rondo murder plot.

“While the American system of justice grants everyone the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law, in the Village of Broadview, the court of public opinion of residents has even higher moral and ethical standards of behavior,” Mayor Katrina Thompson said in a statement on the matter. “And our public partners must also reflect the same uncompromising standards demanded by our residents. Given the news that Durk “Lil Durk” Banks has been arrested in Florida and charged with murder for hire, the Village of Broadview is withdrawing our honorary ‘key to the village’ granted to Durk and is terminating our partnership agreement with his youth organization, Neighborhood Heroes Foundation.”

At the time of this report, reps for Durk have not issued a statement on any of the above.

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