Rapper, Five Others Face Federal Charges in 2022 Beverly Center Shooting
Grammy Award-winning Chicago rapper Durk Banks, known as “Lil Durk,” has been arrested in connection with a federal criminal complaint accusing him of conspiring to murder a rival rapper in a plot that led to a fatal shooting near the Beverly Center in Los Angeles in August 2022, the Justice Department announced. The incident left the rival rapper’s family member dead in a gas station shooting.
Banks, 32, was taken into custody near Miami International Airport on Thursday on charges of conspiracy to use interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death. He appeared in federal court in Miami and remains in custody, with an arraignment expected in Los Angeles federal court in the coming weeks.
According to local Miami news reports, Durk was arrested at the Miami airport after booking a flight to Italy following the arrests of the five other suspects. The shooting likely took place at the Mobil on La Cienega and Beverly, according to video obtained by TMZ.
“Mr. Banks is charged with orchestrating a cold-blooded murder that resulted in the death of a rival’s family member,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “The shooting occurred openly at a busy gas station, endangering others in the area. This type of violence will not be tolerated.”
According to the complaint, Banks is the leader of the Chicago-based rap collective “Only the Family” (OTF), which authorities allege engages in violent acts, including murder, at his direction. The complaint states that Banks placed a bounty on a rival identified as “T.B.,” whose associate had been involved in the 2020 murder of Dayvon Bennett, or “King Von,” a close friend of Banks and OTF member.
On August 19, 2022, members of OTF allegedly tracked T.B. and attempted an attack, leading to a shooting at a gas station near the Beverly Center where 18 rounds were fired. T.B.’s family member, identified as “S.R.,” was killed during the attack.
In addition to Banks, five others, including Kavon Grant, 28, of Chicago, face federal charges. According to records, Grant and other OTF members traveled from Chicago to California using funds from OTF, with flights and hotel expenses arranged and paid under false names. Grant allegedly provided ski masks and other materials for the attack.
Banks and Grant were arrested alongside four other suspects, identified as:
- Deandre Dontrell Wilson, 33, of Chicago
- Keith Jones, 33, of Gary, Indiana
- David Brian Lindsey, 33, of Addison, Illinois
- Asa Houston, 36, of Chicago
The defendants face multiple federal charges, including conspiracy, use of interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire and firearms offenses. Each appeared in federal court in Illinois, with arraignments expected in Los Angeles in the coming weeks.
Federal law enforcement officials, including FBI Assistant Director Akil Davis, emphasized the extensive collaboration among agencies in apprehending Banks and his associates. “While you’re going about your life, thinking you ‘got away with it,’ the FBI is piecing together the facts that will serve as your undoing,” Davis said.
The Justice Department reminded the public that a criminal complaint contains allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
