A$AP Rocky (Rakim Mayers) has been found not guilty on both counts in the shooting case involving his former friend and associate A$AP Relli (Terrell Ephron).
The verdict, which the jury reached after about three hours, according to The Associated Press, was read in the downtown Los Angeles courtroom at 4 p.m. PT on Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 18).
Upon the reading of the verdict, wild cheers of celebration broke out and an ebullient Rocky jumped over the railing toward his partner Rihanna, who was seated in the audience and has attended multiple dates during the trial, along with Rocky’s mother and sister. After taking his place back at the defense table, the emotional rapper embraced his attorneys and later folded his hands in prayer.
Rocky, who was arrested in April 2022 at Los Angeles International Airport after being accused of firing a handgun twice at Relli near a Hollywood hotel in November 2021, faced two felony counts of assault with a firearm and a maximum of 24 years in prison if convicted. The 36-year-old pleaded not guilty to all charges in August 2022. Last month, he turned down a final plea deal prior to the start of the three-week trial that would have landed him 180 days in county jail. On Feb. 11, the Harlem rapper waived his right to take the stand and testify.
Rocky’s legal team, led by attorney Joe Tacopino, had argued that the weapon in the case was a prop gun filled with blanks, which the rapper fired in an effort to defuse an escalating situation.
This is a developing story.
