In a high-profile case that captivated the city, a federal jury has delivered its verdict, finding six alleged gang members guilty in the brazen 2020 murder of drill rapper FBG Duck. The jury, consisting of five men and seven women, deliberated for approximately 16 hours over three days before reaching their decision.

The rapper, born Carlton Weekly, was fatally shot in the upscale Gold Coast neighborhood while shopping for his son along Oak Street on August 4, 2020. Prosecutors argued that FBG Duck's murder was a result of an ongoing gang conflict between factions of the Black Disciples and Gangster Disciples on the South Side of Chicago.

FBG Duck's mother, LaSheena Weekly, tearfully received the jury's verdict in an overflow courtroom at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. After the announcement, she expressed gratitude towards the United States government for ensuring that these individuals will not harm others.

The defendants, Charles Liggins, Kenneth Roberson, Christopher Thomas, Marcus Smart, Tacarlos Offerd, and Ralph Turpin, were found guilty of murder in furtherance of a racketeering scheme. The jury also found them guilty of using a firearm in FBG Duck's murder. Additionally, they were convicted on various counts related to injuries sustained by two bystanders during the shooting.

Life sentences are mandatory for a conviction of murder in aid of racketeering. Sentencing hearings for the defendants are expected to take place in August and September.

All six individuals are believed to be members or associates of O-Block, a rival faction of the Black Disciples based in the Parkway Gardens housing complex. Prosecutors alleged that the defendants traveled from Parkway Gardens to Oak Street with the intention of finding and killing FBG Duck. Surveillance videos from Parkway Gardens and police cameras were presented as evidence to support these claims.

The prosecution argued that FBG Duck's murder was part of a long-standing conflict between the two South Side gang factions. Members of these groups frequently utilized drill rap tracks to boast about their actions and target specific victims.

In defense, Charles Liggins' attorney, Cynthia Giacchetti, claimed that prosecutors had blurred the line between entertainment and reality, portraying the rap culture as a lucrative business. Giacchetti argued that even FBG Duck's diss track, which allegedly led to his own demise, was simply a part of the YouTube promotion strategy used by the rapper and his rival, King Von.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Julien countered by stating that it was the defendants who failed to grasp reality, displaying images of victims who had lost their lives in real-world violence. Julien emphasized that these killings were not mere studio fantasies but tragic events that have taken lives from their loved ones.

The defense attorneys criticized the identification of the defendants by prosecution witnesses, claiming that they were unreliable and potentially motivated by self-interest or financial gain. However, Julien defended the witnesses, stating that they represented a broad range of individuals tied to the defendants' world.

With the jury's verdict now reached, the case has brought a sense of closure to FBG Duck's family. As the sentencing hearings approach, the community awaits the final outcome in this significant trial showcasing the consequences of gang violence.