Court Appearance and Charges
Rapper Lil Durk, whose real name is Dirk Derrick Banks, appeared in court where a judge ruled that there is enough evidence to proceed to trial. The charges stem from a shooting incident that occurred near The Varsity in Atlanta.
Video Evidence
The Atlanta Police Department (APD) utilized footage from at least five cameras from local businesses, including a BP station and The Varsity, to build their case. The footage allegedly shows Banks and his co-defendant, Devante Bennett, involved in the shooting of Alexander Witherspoon.
Incident Details
On February 5th, at around 5:00 AM, Lil Durk and Bennett were reportedly seen on camera involved in the shooting. Witherspoon claims he was robbed and shot by the duo, with his chain and $30,000 being stolen, along with the vehicle he was driving.
Prosecution’s Case
Detectives from Atlanta and Chicago testified that Banks and Bennett were seen on tape shooting at Witherspoon. The prosecution is also charging the incident as gang activity, with a Chicago detective confirming that both Banks and Bennett are members of Chicago gangs.
Defense’s Stance
Banks’ attorney argues that the case is a “celebrity witch-hunt” and that if it weren’t for their celebrity status, the charges would be less severe. Banks released a single titled “Turned Myself In” the day he surrendered to authorities, which has garnered nearly 7 million views.
Next Steps
The judge ruled that there is sufficient evidence to move forward with charges, including criminal intent to murder and criminal gang activity. Banks and Bennett are scheduled to return to court in a month for a bond hearing.
