A$AP Rocky has been found not guilty for shooting at former friend A$AP Relli in 2021.
Rocky, born Rakim Mayers, had been charged with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm after he allegedly fired a gun twice in the direction of Terrell Ephron, formerly A$AP Relli, over an argument near a Hollywood hotel on Nov. 6, 2021.
The 36-year-old rapper was facing up to 24 years in prison if convicted on all charges. He is also facing a separate civil lawsuit from Ephron.
The jury began deliberations Tuesday morning, following a three-week long trial in Los Angeles.
A$AP Rocky trial biggest moments:Rihanna appearances, Relli’s lively testimony
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In court, the rapper was accused by prosecutors from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office of brandishing a gun and firing shots that grazed his former friend’s knuckles as Rocky’s defense attorney Joe Tacopina argued the alleged weapon was only a prop gun.
Rocky is married to Rihanna, the billionaire Fenty Beauty founder and nine-time Grammy winning recording artist with whom he shares two children: Riot, 2, and RZA, 1.
A$AP Rocky accuser was animated, passionate witness
The alleged victim Ephron was, at times, an animated witness, providing passionate testimony. His contradictory statements likely complicated the jury’s verdict after his behavior on the stand.
During cross-examination on Jan. 30, Ephron seemingly grew impatient as Tacopina questioned him in court.
He caused a stir when he shouted at Rocky: “You did this to yourself!” Judge Mark Arnold sternly instructed Ephron to “not talk to the defendant,” leading the judge to call a brief recess so Ephron’s lawyer could explain to him how to answer properly in court.
Earlier in the trial, Ephron reversed previous testimony, in which he said a video of him at a gun club had likely been filmed in New Jersey.
He later reversed course amid pressure from Rocky’s attorney, admitting before the jury that the video showed him shooting a semiautomatic gun at an LA gun club two weeks before the alleged incident took place, according to Rolling Stone and Courthouse News Service. His contradictory statements were just one piece of the weeks of testimony that the jury considered in reaching their verdict.
This story is developing.
Contributing: Anna Kaufman, Jay Stahl
