Five men from Chicago have been federally charged in California in connection with a murder-for-hire scheme targeting rapper Quando Rondo, allegedly seeking retribution for the 2020 killing of rapper King Von. The indictment, revealed on Thursday in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, accuses members affiliated with Lil Durk’s hip-hop group, Only the Family (OTF), of planning and executing a violent attempt on Rondo’s life in August 2022.
Details of the Murder-for-Hire Scheme
The defendants—Asa Houston, Keith Jones, David Brian Lindsey, Deandre Dontrell Wilson, and Kavon London Grant—face severe federal charges, including conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death, use of a machine gun in a violent crime, and more. If convicted, they could face the death penalty.
Federal authorities allege that OTF’s involvement goes deep. The indictment details how OTF-affiliated credit cards were reportedly used to pay for flights, hotels, and rental cars, which investigators link to the murder plot. Additionally, at least two of the five men charged are believed to be associated with a Chicago street gang, underscoring the tensions in the Chicago drill music scene—a subgenre known for violent themes and gang affiliations.
The Attempted Assassination in Los Angeles
The plot culminated in August 2022 when Quando Rondo, born Tyquian Terrel Bowman, narrowly escaped an ambush in West Hollywood. Attackers fired on a black Cadillac Escalade carrying Rondo, his sister, and his cousin, Saviay’a Robinson. Tragically, Robinson, 24, was killed in the attack, but Rondo and his sister escaped unharmed.
Court documents describe the planning stages leading up to the ambush. On August 18, 2022, Grant allegedly rented a hotel room in Los Angeles and provided firearms and two rental cars—a white BMW sedan and a white Infiniti—for the operation. Surveillance footage reportedly shows the vehicles tailing the Escalade through multiple locations around Los Angeles before opening fire at a gas station. Houston is accused of acting as the getaway driver, enabling Jones, Lindsey, and another unnamed conspirator to carry out the shooting.
Tensions Rooted in King Von’s Death
King Von, born Dayvon Bennett, was fatally shot during an altercation outside an Atlanta hookah bar on November 6, 2020. His murder escalated existing rivalries in the drill rap scene, and Quando Rondo was suspected by OTF affiliates of being connected to Von’s death. Federal prosecutors allege that a high-ranking OTF member offered both money and a potential recording contract as incentives to anyone who would successfully kill Rondo in retaliation.
The indictment cites a co-conspirator, affiliated with OTF, who reportedly promised lucrative rewards for carrying out Rondo’s murder. This organized effort allegedly reflects longstanding violence in Chicago’s drill scene, which has influenced ongoing tensions and confrontations among rival factions within the music genre.
Arrests and Ongoing Investigations
Following their arrests in Chicago, the five men appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Gilbert at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, where their transfer to Los Angeles was ordered for further court proceedings. This case is among the latest in a series of investigations into OTF’s alleged connections to violent incidents tied to Chicago’s drill scene, highlighting growing concerns about the intersection of music and gang violence.
As federal authorities scrutinize OTF’s potential involvement in violence surrounding the drill community, the fallout from King Von’s murder continues to loom over Chicago’s music scene. Ongoing federal probes into OTF’s alleged role in illegal activities underscore the widespread impact of drill music’s violent themes, which, though culturally influential, have also drawn criticism for their association with real-world violence.
This case follows additional recent controversies involving OTF, as earlier this month, FBG Duck’s mother filed a lawsuit against Lil Durk, King Von, and OTF, alleging their involvement in her son’s 2020 murder. As investigations intensify, authorities hope to understand the deeper connections between OTF’s influential music presence and its alleged ties to organized criminal activity.