A$AP Rocky found not guilty of firing gun at his former friend
The rapper, who was supported by his partner Rihanna during the trial, was charged with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm against former friend Terell Ephron, known as A$AP Relli, in November 2021.
Once close, the pair were both members of the A$AP Mob crew of creators at high school in New York, but their relationship broke down after Rocky became famous, the court was told.
After the jury’s decision was read out, Rocky dived over a bench to hug loved ones in celebration.
“Thank y’all for saving my life,” Rocky told jurors as they left the courtroom. He had faced more than 24 years in prison if convicted.
After the verdict, Rihanna cried and also hugged lawyers.
Speaking outside court amid a frenzied media scrum, Rocky said: “First of all, I gotta thank god. I really wanna thank the jury for making the right decision.
“I’m so thankful this is crazy right now. I’m thankful … we’re blessed to be a freeman talking to all of y’all.”
‘Jealousy, lies and greed’
During the trial, jurors were shown surveillance videos which prosecutors argued were clear evidence that Rocky fired a gun at Ephron outside a parking garage in Hollywood.
But the 36-year-old’s attorney told the court Ephron was driven by “jealousy, lies and greed” and that the gun was actually a “starter pistol” that only shot blanks.
Ahead of the trial, the rapper turned down a final prosecution plea offer – to plead guilty to one of his two felony counts and serve 180 days in prison.
Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, has two toddler sons with his pop superstar partner.
The Umbrella singer attended court on several days during the trial, including when Ephron gave evidence.
Rocky was nominated for an award at the Grammys earlier this month, and is one of the celebrity chairmen of this year’s Met Gala in May.
He also has a major role in an upcoming Spike Lee-directed film with Denzel Washington.
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