Rapper A$AP Rocky (Rakim Mayers), was found not guilty on two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm against his ex-friend, Terell Ephron (A$AP Relli), following a nearly month-long trial.
Screams echoed through the courtroom after the verdict was read as Rocky rushed to embrace his longtime partner, Rihanna, as well as his legal team.
The rapper also expressed his gratitude to the jurors as they left the courtroom.
“Thank y’all for saving my life,” he said to the jury.
(L): A$AP Rocky leaving the courtroom; and (R): A$AP Rocky’s longtime partner, Rihanna, who attended much of the trial, holding the couple’s toddler son outside of the courthouse; Photo Credit: The Associated Press
Prosecutors claim Rocky shot in the direction of Ephron near a Hollywood hotel in 2021. Ephron claims Rocky allegedly threatened to kill him during the incident, leaving him with bullet graze wounds above his knuckles.
The defense team accused Ephron of fabricating evidence, committing perjury, and extorting Rocky, claiming he used a prop gun for security purposes. They presented a recording of a witness from 2022 who claimed that Ephron attempted to exhort Rocky.
The Guardian reported that the evidence came from text messages and phone calls recorded by a mutual friend. Relli stated he intended to take Rocky for millions. Relli testified the calls were faked, but the prosecution played long excerpts during closing arguments.
Both the prosecution and defense agree that the parties involved in the incident walked away after confrontation back in November 6, 2021.
Rocky would’ve faced up to 24 years in prison if convicted. At the start of the trial, Rocky maintained his innocence, rejecting a plea deal that carried a sentence of 180 days in jail.