Rapper A$AP Rocky was acquitted of two felony assault charges in a Los Angeles court on Tuesday, avoiding a potential decades-long prison sentence over allegations that he shot at a former friend in Hollywood in 2021.
The Grammy-nominated artist, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, appeared visibly relieved as the verdict was read, hugging supporters in the courtroom.
The trial revolved around accusations that Mayers fired a nine-millimeter semi-automatic weapon during a confrontation with Terell Ephron, known as A$AP Relli, on November 6, 2021. Ephron claimed that one of the bullets grazed his hand.
Mayers, however, maintained that he had only been carrying a harmless prop gun.
Once close friends and members of the A$AP rap collective, Mayers and Ephron had fallen out over claims that Mayers’ success had made him arrogant. Ephron testified that Mayers lured him to a Hollywood parking garage, where the rapper allegedly pulled a gun, pointed it at Ephron’s stomach, and threatened to kill him before firing two shots.
The defence, led by attorney Joe Tacopina, countered that no real firearm was involved. “It was absolutely nothing more than a prop gun… a starter gun, a blank gun, a fake gun,” Tacopina argued.
Tacopina also pointed out that police officers who searched the scene found no shell casings or weapons. Ephron, however, later claimed to have discovered two shell casings himself.
The defence lawyer labelled Ephron a criminal and a perjurer, suggesting the entire case was an attempt to extort money from the rapper.
He urged the district attorney to consider prosecuting Ephron for making false claims.
Mayers and his partner, global music star Rihanna, have yet to publicly comment on the verdict. The singer attended court frequently throughout the trial.
A$AP Rocky gained widespread fame with his chart-topping albums Long. Live. A$AP and At. Long. Last. A$AP. His legal troubles have made headlines before, including a 2019 assault case in Sweden that led to diplomatic tensions and an intervention from then-US President Donald Trump.
