A$AP Rocky has been acquitted of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, putting an end to a case that had hung over the hip-hop star for years. The verdict was delivered by a jury of 12 after roughly three hours of deliberation.
The trial centered around an incident in November 2021 where Rocky was accused of shooting at his former friend, Terell Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli, in Hollywood. The prosecution alleged that Rocky fired blanks from a prop gun taken from a music video set, while the defense argued that he acted in self-defense or that the prosecution failed to prove its case.
The jury ultimately decided that the prosecution had not proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, leading to Rocky’s acquittal. During closing arguments last week, Rihanna, Rocky’s partner, surprised everyone by bringing their two young children to court, sparking a joyful scene after the verdict.
Rocky faced up to 24 years in prison if convicted, but his lawyer, Joe Tacopina, accused Relli of being an “angry pathological liar” and committed perjury. Despite the intense scrutiny, Tacopina has represented other high-profile clients, including Meek Mill and YG.
The acquittal marks a major relief for Rocky, who had a packed schedule of upcoming events, including headlining the Rolling Loud music festival in Los Angeles and appearing at the Met Gala. With his life and career hanging in the balance, Rocky’s acquittal is a significant victory.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/asap-rocky-assault-trial-jury-deliberations-status-6cacae4494190d9777986ff471f701e0