Hip-hop star A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, has been found not guilty of two felony assault charges in a Los Angeles court.
The rapper, who shares two children with Rihanna, was facing the possibility of more than 20 years in prison for allegedly firing a gun at a former friend in Hollywood in 2021.
The verdict sparked an emotional reaction in the courtroom, with Rocky embracing supporters after being cleared of all charges.
Prosecutors had claimed the rapper fired a 9mm semi-automatic weapon during an altercation with Terell Ephron, known as A$AP Relli, on November 6, 2021. Ephron alleged that one of the bullets grazed his hand.
Rocky, 36, maintained his innocence, arguing that he had only been carrying a harmless prop gun. His defense attorney, Joe Tacopina, described the firearm as a “starter gun” commonly used in film and music productions. He further accused Ephron of fabricating the story to extort Rocky's money.
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Tacopina emphasized that police found no physical evidence, such as shell casings or a weapon, during their search. However, Ephron returned to the scene and claimed to have discovered shell casings.
The trial also revealed tensions within the A$AP collective as former friends turned against each other. Despite the accusations, the jury sided with Rocky, leading his attorney to call for an investigation into Ephron for potential perjury and extortion.
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