A$AP Rocky acquitted: Jury finds rapper not guilty in Hollywood shooting case

Rapper A$AP Rocky has been acquitted of all charges in his felony firearm case, with a Los Angeles jury finding him not guilty on two counts of assault with a semi-automatic weapon.

The artist, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, had faced up to 24 years in prison if convicted.

The case stemmed from a November 6, 2021, incident in which Terell Ephron, a former friend and fellow member of the A$AP Mob collective, accused the rapper of firing a gun at him during an argument in Hollywood.

According to Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli, one of the bullets grazed his knuckles.

Throughout the trial, Mayers denied the allegations, asserting that the gun in question was merely a prop and that Ephron was motivated by financial gain.

When the jury delivered the not-guilty verdict, the courtroom erupted in cheers. The rapper immediately embraced his family and longtime partner, pop icon Rihanna, even leaping over a wooden barrier to reach them.

Overcome with emotion, he also hugged his legal team, appearing to hold back tears as the second verdict was read.

"Thank God for saving my life," A$AP Rocky said, expressing gratitude to the 12-person jury.

The legal dispute between Mayers and Ephron highlighted their once-close relationship, which dates back to high school in New York.

While they were initially part of the A$AP Mob together, their friendship reportedly deteriorated as Mayers’ career skyrocketed.

The prosecution alleged that after a disagreement, the two met near the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where Mayers allegedly brandished a firearm, threatened Ephron, and later fired multiple shots.

However, the defence countered that there was no direct evidence proving that Mayers fired a real weapon. Surveillance footage presented in court included audio of gunfire but did not clearly show a shooting.

Ephron took two days to report the alleged attack and presented shell casings he claimed to have collected from the scene.

However, police officers responding to reports of gunfire at the time did not recover any shell casings. The defence suggested that Ephron planted the casings to frame A$AP Rocky.

The trial featured heated exchanges, particularly when Ephron testified. At one point, he called defence attorney Joe Tacopina "annoying," prompting the judge to intervene.

 Another dramatic moment occurred when A$AP Rocky interrupted questioning regarding a photo of his bed, preventing a witness from explaining the meaning of a label on the furniture.

Despite the prosecution’s claims, the jury ultimately sided with the defence, delivering a verdict that cleared the rapper of all charges.