(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Just a week after two western suburbs honored Chicago rapper "Lil Durk" for his charitable work, he was arrested in south Florida in connection with a murder-for-hire investigation. The leaders of those communities had very different reactions.
The mayors of Broadview and Bellwood honored Lil Durk, whose real name is Durk Banks, by presenting him with honorary "keys" to their villages for his charitable foundation's work with those communities.
Darnell Johnson is with the Holistic Community Coalition, which also works with Lil Durk's organization.
“Ultimately what they are saying is that mayor values the civic and the humanitarian efforts that that individual has exuded, because they trust them and know that they are going to bring value to their community,” Johnson said.
After the arrest, Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson decided to withdraw the honor and severe ties with Lil Durk's foundation.
However, Bellwood Mayor Andre Harvey says he's waiting for the legal system to decide Lil Durk's guilt or innocence before taking action.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson appears to be taking a "wait and see" approach to his ties to Lil Durk.
The rap star donated $150,000 to the mayor's political committee.
At an unrelated event in Douglass Park, reporters asked the mayor if he had plans to return the money.
“Yeah, well loo, I don’t know all the circumstances and details around you know these accusations. But what I do know is that Lil Durk’s mission to build financial literacy for children across the city and making other critical investments for the children of the city,” Johnson said.
Federal prosecutors accuse Lil Durk of paying several associates for an attack that led to the murder of a cousin of rapper Quando Rondo in Los Angeles in 2022.
Investigators believe it was in retaliation for the murder of Chicago rapper King Von.
Lil Durk’s arrest came on the same day that five members of hip hop collective that he founded were arrested in Chicago for an alleged murder.
The rapper was taken into custody Thursday night in Florida on a charge of murder for hire.
The allegations against the five arrested in Chicago are that they were contracted to murder rapper Quando Rondo in Los Angeles because of his suspected involvement in the murder of another rapper King Von, a mentor to Lil Durk.
Charges against those five include committing murder for hire, involving death and use of a machine gun in a violent crime resulting in death.
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