LOS ANGELES, USA — A California jury has found hip-hop artist A$AP Rocky not guilty of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, clearing him of charges stemming from a 2021 shooting incident involving a former friend in Los Angeles.
The rapper, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers, did not testify during the trial.
His attorneys argued that the weapon in question was a prop gun that fired only blanks.
After the verdict was read on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, Rocky expressed gratitude to the jury, saying, “Thank y’all for saving my life.”
His longtime partner, singer and business mogul Rihanna, was present in the courtroom for the decision.
Case Background and Trial Details
The charges stemmed from a November 6, 2021 altercation between Rocky and his former friend, Terell Ephron — better known as A$AP Relli — outside a Hollywood hotel.
Both men were part of the A$AP Mob, a creative collective they co-founded in New York.
Relli testified that the dispute turned violent when Rocky allegedly fired a gun at him, grazing his knuckles with a bullet.
However, Rocky’s defense team maintained that he had been carrying a starter pistol obtained from a music video set and that it only fired blanks.
Another A$AP Mob member, A$AP Twelvyy, testified that Relli was the aggressor in the confrontation and that Rocky had used the gun only to fire a warning shot.
The defense also argued that Relli was motivated by “jealousy, lies, and greed” and had financial reasons for pursuing the case against Rocky.
Surveillance footage captured portions of the incident, but no weapons or live ammunition were found at the scene. Relli later turned over shell casings he claimed to have recovered.
Reactions to the Verdict
Following the acquittal, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman released a statement acknowledging the outcome.
“While this is not the verdict we were hoping for, we respect the jury’s decision and the integrity of our justice system,” Hochman said.
“Our office remains committed to seeking accountability for those who break the law, no matter their status or influence. Fame does not place anyone above the law, and we will not waver in our pursuit of justice for victims and the community.”
Rihanna, who attended court proceedings alongside the couple’s two young sons, RZA, 2, and Riot, 1, has not publicly commented on the verdict.
