A$AP Rocky Found Not Guilty in High-Profile Shooting Case
The tension was thick in the Los Angeles courtroom as the jury returned with their verdict. For weeks, the hip-hop world had been closely following the felony assault trial of rapper A$AP Rocky, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers. The case stemmed from a heated confrontation in Hollywood in 2021, where he was accused of firing a gun at his former friend, Terrell "A$AP Relli" Ephron. Facing up to 24 years behind bars if convicted, Rocky maintained his innocence throughout the trial. And on that fateful Tuesday, after three hours of deliberation, the jury delivered its unanimous decision: Not guilty.
The Allegations and Charges
The case against Rocky was serious. Prosecutors alleged that on November 6, 2021, he had pulled out a semi-automatic firearm and fired two shots in Relli’s direction during a heated argument. One of those shots allegedly grazed Relli’s knuckles, leading to two felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm being filed against the rapper in August 2022.
Rocky, a Grammy-nominated artist, fashion mogul, and longtime partner of global superstar Rihanna, pleaded not guilty from the start. Despite the gravity of the charges, his legal team insisted that he acted in self-defense, claiming that Relli initiated the altercation. The prosecution, however, sought to paint Rocky as the aggressor and was pushing for an eight-year sentence.
The Trial: A Clash of Stories
As the trial unfolded, it became clear that there were two vastly different versions of the story.
Relli, a former member of the A$AP Mob collective, testified that his friendship with Rocky soured after the rapper found fame. He recalled how he overheard Rocky speaking negatively about him on speakerphone to mutual friends. Feeling disrespected, Relli agreed to meet up, suspecting that things might get physical. “I had kind of an idea he wanted to fight or something,” he told the court.
However, according to Relli’s version of events, things escalated beyond a simple fistfight. He claimed that during their confrontation, Rocky pulled out a handgun, pointed it at his head and stomach, and fired. Prosecutors backed this account, stating that Relli suffered a minor injury when one of the bullets grazed his knuckles.
But Rocky’s defense team pushed back hard. They argued that Relli was the aggressor and that Rocky had only acted to protect himself. The defense also claimed that the gun in question had been taken from a music video set and only fired blanks. Despite being a key point in the case, authorities were never able to recover the weapon.
The Trial’s High-Profile Spectacle
Given Rocky’s celebrity status and his relationship with Rihanna, the trial was a major event in pop culture. The Barbadian superstar attended court sessions, showing unwavering support for her partner. Even more notably, she brought along their two young sons—RZA, 2, and Riot, 1—to witness the closing arguments. The sight of Rihanna in the courtroom, holding their children, added an emotional layer to an already dramatic legal battle.
Rocky’s legal history also played a role in public interest. Back in 2019, he was arrested in Sweden for assaulting a 19-year-old man in an altercation caught on camera. That case gained international attention when then-President Donald Trump publicly advocated for his release. Though Rocky was found guilty, he was allowed to return to the U.S. without serving additional jail time. Many wondered if this time, in an American courtroom, his fate would be different.
The Verdict and Celebration
As the jury foreperson read out “not guilty”, an eruption of cheers broke out in the courtroom. Rocky’s supporters, many of whom had attended every hearing, couldn’t contain their relief. The rapper himself rushed to embrace his legal team, who had fought tirelessly to clear his name.
His lead attorney, Joe Tacopina, later revealed that Rocky had been offered a plea deal that included 180 days in jail, but he refused it. “Yes, he was offered a plea deal but is not interested because he is actually innocent,” Tacopina stated. For Rocky, accepting any form of punishment for a crime he insisted he didn’t commit was never an option.
The Bigger Picture: Hip-Hop and the Justice System
Rocky’s trial once again brought to light the often-complicated relationship between hip-hop artists and the legal system. Many fans and industry figures have argued that rappers are frequently targeted and unfairly portrayed as criminals. The trial’s outcome, while a relief for Rocky, has reignited discussions about the justice system’s handling of high-profile Black artists.
With this chapter behind him, what’s next for A$AP Rocky? Music lovers are already speculating about a possible new album, while fashion enthusiasts eagerly await his next move in the industry. One thing is certain—this verdict allows him to move forward, free of the weight of a conviction that could have drastically altered his future.
Login