Jury Acquits Rapper A$AP Rocky in Gun Assault Trial

A$AP Rocky was charged with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm in connection with a 2021 shooting.

Rapper A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, was found not guilty on two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm after being accused of shooting at former friend and bandmate Terell Ephron during an argument in 2021.

The 36-year-old artist reacted emotionally upon hearing the verdict in a Los Angeles courtroom, embracing his legal team and supporters, while cheers erupted from those in attendance.

Speaking outside the Los Angeles Superior Court, Mayers expressed his gratitude: “First of all, we want to thank God. We really want to thank the jury for making the right decision. We’re blessed to be here right now, to be a free man talking to y’all.”

The jury’s decision followed a three-week trial where prosecutors attempted to portray Mayers as the aggressor, alleging he fired shots at Ephron over a dispute. If convicted, he faced a potential 24-year prison sentence, though prosecutors had sought an eight-year term.

Deputy District Attorney Paul Przelomiec framed the case as a straightforward matter in his closing argument, stating, “The question for you to answer in this case boils down to really just one question: Did Mr. Mayers use a real gun or a fake gun? Nothing else is in dispute.”

The defense countered by portraying Ephron, known as A$AP Relli, as a jealous former associate who initiated the altercation. Mayers' attorney, Joe Tacopina, argued that his client had only been carrying a prop gun for protection and had fired it to deter Ephron from attacking one of their friends.

During the proceedings, Mayers' partner, Rihanna, attended the trial alongside their two children. She was present for the closing arguments and returned to court on Friday.

Mayers maintained his innocence throughout and declined a pre-trial plea deal that would have resulted in 180 days in jail. Choosing not to testify, he told Judge Mark Arnold, “I want my right not to testify.”

Following the verdict, Mayers’ attorney Chad Seigel stood by his client as media gathered outside the courthouse. “We’re grateful to the jury,” Seigel stated. “They saw through this mirage of a case.” He further emphasized that Mayers rejected the plea deal despite no jail time because he was innocent.

Tacopina echoed this sentiment, questioning the lack of concrete evidence. “There's not enough evidence in this case to say definitively there was a shooting,” he said.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman acknowledged the verdict but defended the prosecution's decision to bring the case forward. “While today’s verdict is not the outcome we sought, we respect the jury’s decision and the integrity of our justice system,” Hochman said. “Our office remains committed to seeking accountability for those who break the law, no matter their status or influence. Fame does not place anyone above the law.”

According to prosecutors, Mayers and members of his A$AP rap collective had been walking near a Hollywood hotel when Mayers allegedly pulled a semiautomatic pistol, pointed it at Ephron, and threatened to kill him before firing two shots. Ephron testified that Mayers aimed downward when firing the first shot, claiming, “When he shot the first shot, I felt my hand hot, so I grabbed [A$AP] Illz, used him as a shield.”

Ephron further stated that Mayers continued to fire while running toward him. “He’s running and shooting,” he testified.

However, witnesses from Mayers’ camp refuted these claims. Fellow A$AP member Jamel “A$AP Twelvyy” Phillips testified that Mayers only carried a prop gun due to past violent incidents, including home invasions and a stabbing. Phillips alleged that Ephron was the aggressor and taunted Mayers by saying, “Shoot that fake … gun.”

Mayers’ tour manager, the final witness, also maintained that the gun was merely a prop.

As the rapper left the courthouse, he was greeted by a crowd of supporters celebrating his acquittal, marking the end of a high-profile case that had captivated the music industry and legal observers alike.