A$AP Rocky Acquitted In Felony Assault Trial

Rapper A$AP Rocky has been found not guilty of felony assault following a high-profile trial in Los Angeles.

The jury delivered the verdict on Tuesday, February 18, after just three hours of deliberation.

Upon hearing the decision, the hip-hop star, born Rakim Mayers, turned to embrace his jubilant supporters, even stumbling in his excitement.

“Thank y’all for saving my life,” Mayers told jurors as they exited the courtroom.

The 36-year-old rapper was charged with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and faced a potential 24-year prison sentence if convicted.

Prosecutors alleged that on November 6, 2021, Mayers fired a gun twice at his former friend and fellow rapper, A$AP Relli (real name Terrell Ephron), following a dispute on a Hollywood street.

Ephron, the key witness for the prosecution, claimed that one of the shots grazed his knuckles, though he was otherwise unharmed.

On the eve of the trial, Mayers rejected a plea deal that would have resulted in six months in jail, probation, and other conditions in exchange for pleading guilty to one count.

Mayers’ legal team argued that the gun was a prop, brought from a music video set, and that it only fired blanks.

His lawyer, Joe Tacopina, dismissed Ephron’s claims, calling him:

“An angry pathological liar who committed perjury again and again and again.”

The trial also saw emotional moments involving Mayers’ partner, Rihanna, who attended much of the proceedings.

The global pop icon even brought their two young sons—2-year-old RZA and 1-year-old Riot Rose—to the closing arguments.

However, Deputy District Attorney John Lewin suggested this was an attempt to sway the jury:

“They brought in two adorable children… for closing argument. They haven’t been here any other time. You have to ask yourselves, why?”

Lewin urged the jury to separate emotions from their decision:

“You are not allowed to consider how this might affect Rihanna and his kids. We are all responsible for our own actions.”

When the not-guilty verdict was read, Rihanna cried and embraced the defense attorneys.

She later took to Instagram Stories, writing:

“The glory belongs to God and God alone! Thankful, humbled by His mercy.”