A Los Angeles jury acquitted rapper A$AP Rocky of two felony assault charges on Tuesday, clearing him of accusations that he fired a gun at former friend A$AP Relli during a 2021 Hollywood altercation.
Courtroom Reaction & Trial Details
- Rakim Mayers (A$AP Rocky), 36, faced over two decades in prison if convicted.
- The verdict sparked commotion in court, with Mayers embracing supporters in relief.
- Prosecutors claimed he fired a 9mm semi-automatic weapon, grazing Ephron’s hand, while Mayers insisted he had only a prop gun.
- The jury was not convinced by Ephron’s claim that Mayers threatened to kill him before firing two shots.
Defense: ‘A Case of Extortion’
- Attorney Joe Tacopina argued that the case was an attempt to extort money, branding Ephron a “criminal and a perjurer.”
- No weapon or shell casings were initially found at the scene, but Ephron later claimed to have discovered casings himself.
- Tacopina said the jury saw through the ‘mirage of a case’ and called for Ephron to be prosecuted instead.
Background & Previous Legal Troubles
- Mayers and Ephron were once part of the A$AP rap collective but fell out due to Mayers’ rising commercial success.
- In 2019, A$AP Rocky was convicted in Sweden for assault but received a suspended sentence, sparking diplomatic tensions and intervention from then-President Donald Trump.
Neither Mayers nor Rihanna, who frequently attended the trial, have commented on the verdict.
