Dayvon Bennett, more commonly known by his stage name King Von, was an American rapper born and raised in Chicago’s O Block neighborhood, known for crime and drug addiction. After serving time in jail he began rapping professionally.
In 2014, he was accused of murder. Once proven innocent, he turned his focus toward rapping. Working alongside Lil Durk, they released their debut single and it quickly became their breakthrough hit single.
Born in Chicago
Born Dayvon Bennett on August 9, 1994, King Von was raised by his grandmother in Chicago’s Southside neighborhood. Unfortunately, his father was killed when he was only two years old, while his mother became imprisoned shortly thereafter. Von often lived between family members’ houses during his early life.
Rap was his calling card; he crafted an alluring persona combining aggressive street antics with more emotionally vulnerable themes like love and mental health. This storytelling style quickly caught the attention of established rappers like Lil Durk who signed him to their Only the Family label.
Von’s label released his viral single “Problems” in 2018, followed by his debut mixtape Grandson Vol. 1. Additionally, he collaborated with many talented artists such as Booka600 and Polo G; his business acumen allowed him to run multiple enterprises such as an apparel line and food vending machines; he was an American citizen and followed Christianity as his religion; his death occurred on November 6, 2020 when he was 26 years old.
Raised in the Southside
Von, despite his success as a rapper, would regularly return to Parkway Gardens with cash to distribute to families in need. He even covered funeral costs for friends killed by gun violence and used music as a platform to address issues like racism and poverty.
Von was the youngest of three siblings and had six half-siblings from his father’s two marriages. His mother raised him alongside his two younger brothers; however, as he became increasingly immersed in gang culture he gradually drifted apart from them.
Von, one of Chicago’s acclaimed rappers, began to forge his own unique sound away from drill. His fluid storytelling and unnerving sense of reality established him as a force within the industry; yet his troubled past would haunt him; both Grandson 2020 mixtape and Welcome to O’Block studio album charted on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums lists.
Arrested for Murder
On November 7, 2020, 22-year-old Timothy Leeks shot Dayvon Bennett aka King Von outside the Monaco Hookah Lounge in downtown Atlanta during an argument between two groups of men. Police believe Leeks was responsible for killing King Von.
King von autopsy began the gunfight when he noticed Marquis Carpenter from Jaro City Gangster Disciples was giving him unfavorable looks. To address him directly he called on O-Block member Big Mike; together they arrived at their target location to see Marquis flee with a weapon in hand and begin firing shots at them both.
Witness accounts indicate that King Von ordered Marquis to stop and began shooting at him, targeting his ear before shooting twice more in his buttocks when it appeared Marquis was about to rise and flee. Trap Lore Ross documented this episode of King Von: Rap’s First Serial Killer with regard to this rapper known by “Crazy Story.” Ross claimed King Von had killed up to 10 individuals prior to his own demise.
Assassinated
The tragic shooting of rapper King Von was yet another tragedy, coming just one week after the release of his latest album Welcome to O’Block and showing that he had a strong passion for giving back to the community which raised him.
King Von: Rap’s First Serial Killer has been taken down from YouTube following its claims of King Von being responsible for at least 10 separate murders.
King Von is believed to be involved in the killing of Gakira Barnes, a member of Gangster Disciples street gang. Her death triggered a battle between Gangster Disciples and Black Disciples – King Von’s own street gang – for supremacy over Gakira Barnes’ corpse.
Two people were killed during the battle, including King Von, who was fatally shot during an exchange outside Monaco Hookah Lounge in downtown Atlanta on November 6. Celebrities like NBA star Lebron James and fellow Chicago rapper Chance The Rapper sent their condolences to King Von’s family following his passing.
