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In a decisive conclusion to a closely watched trial, rapper A$AP Rocky was found not guilty on Tuesday of felony assault charges stemming from a 2021 incident in Hollywood. The verdict, delivered at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles, marked the end of a nearly four-week trial that captured significant media attention.
The courtroom erupted in cheers as the jury of seven women and five men delivered their verdict, clearing Rocky (legal name Rakim Mayers) of two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. The rapper, who faced up to 24 years in prison if convicted, immediately embraced his family members, including his partner Rihanna, who had been present throughout the proceedings.
"Thank y'all for saving my life," Mayers told the jurors as they exited the courtroom, expressing profound relief at the outcome.
The case centered on a confrontation between Mayers and former friend Terrell Ephron (known professionally as A$AP Relli), both childhood acquaintances and members of the Harlem-based A$AP Mob collective. Ephron alleged that Mayers shot at him during a confrontation outside a Hollywood parking garage, claiming his hand was grazed by a bullet.
- No weapon was ever recovered by authorities
- No physical evidence of a shooting was found at the initial scene
- Shell casings were only presented to police by Ephron days after the alleged incident
- The defense maintained that Mayers only carried a "prop gun" for security purposes
Defense attorney Joe Tacopina revealed that Mayers had previously rejected a plea deal offering a 180-day jail term, maintaining his client's innocence throughout the proceedings. Following the verdict, Tacopina strongly criticized the prosecution's case, suggesting that authorities should investigate Ephron for perjury and attempted extortion.
"Bottom line is we're grateful for the jury they saw through this barrage of a case," Tacopina stated outside the courthouse. "We said from day one, he was innocent. He turned down a plea for almost no jail time because he was innocent."
Throughout the trial, ASAP received consistent support from his partner Rihanna, who attended multiple proceedings, often accompanied by his family members. The case attracted substantial media coverage, highlighting the intersection of celebrity justice, hip-hop culture, and the American legal system.
