•Rapper Acquitted of Two Felony Assault Charges After Three-Week Trial
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After a high-profile three-week trial, rapper A$AP Rocky, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers, has been found not guilty of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
The verdict comes after he was accused of firing a gun at his former friend and A$AP Mob associate, Terell Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli, in November 2021.
A jury of seven women and five men reached the unanimous decision after deliberating for approximately three hours.
The ruling brings an end to a closely watched legal battle that had the hip-hop world on edge.
Allegations and the Case Against A$AP Rocky
Ephron, who was once part of A$AP Rocky’s inner circle, alleged that the rapper threatened to kill him before firing a real firearm in a crowded Hollywood area on the night of November 6, 2021.
He testified that he sustained bullet-grazing wounds above his knuckles from the shots fired.
Prosecutors argued that A$AP Rocky endangered public safety by using a real gun and firing in an area with bystanders.
They portrayed the rapper as reckless and claimed his actions caused bodily harm to Ephron.
Rocky’s Defense and the Jury’s Verdict
A$AP Rocky’s defense team, however, challenged the credibility of Ephron’s claims, asserting that he fabricated evidence, committed perjury, and attempted to extort the rapper.
The defense insisted that Rocky was in possession of a prop gun that only fired blanks, contradicting the prosecution’s assertion that a real firearm was used.
Rocky had consistently maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to both charges.
In a key pretrial decision, the rapper declined a plea deal last month that would have required him to serve 180 days in jail.
Emotional Moments in the Courtroom
The courtroom was filled with tension and emotion as the verdict was read. The moment the first ‘not guilty’ decision was announced, A$AP Rocky rushed to his partner, Rihanna, and the two embraced.
Rihanna, who held a stuffed animal, began to cry as she hugged Rocky and members of his legal team.
Rocky, visibly emotional, thanked his attorneys, saying, “Thank y’all for saving my life,” while making a prayer-hand gesture as the jury exited.
His mother, who was also in attendance, expressed her gratitude, hugging reporters and supporters as she left the courtroom.
Outside the courthouse, Rocky addressed reporters, reflecting on the long and arduous legal battle.
“This whole experience has been crazy these last four years. But I’m thankful, nonetheless, and blessed to be here right now, to be a free man talking to you,” he said.
What’s Next for A$AP Rocky?
With the trial behind him, A$AP Rocky can now move forward without the weight of felony charges hanging over him.
The rapper, fashion icon, and father of two with Rihanna has been free on bail since his 2022 arrest.
While the prosecution maintained their stance that Rocky was guilty, the jury ultimately sided with the defense, delivering a major legal victory for the Grammy-nominated artist.
As he walked away from the courthouse, Rihanna was seen smiling and exclaiming, “Oh my God!”, encapsulating the relief and joy of Rocky’s family and supporters.
For now, A$AP Rocky is a free man, ready to move on from a turbulent chapter in his life.
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