“The hip-hop star faced two felony charges for assault with a semiautomatic gun in a 2021 incident involving a former friend.”
In a significant legal victory, A$AP Rocky was acquitted on Tuesday of all charges in a high-profile felony assault case. Following a three-week trial, a Los Angeles jury delivered a unanimous verdict, finding the rapper not guilty on all counts.
The hip-hop artist, visibly relieved, embraced his legal team after the verdict was announced. His longtime partner, Rihanna, who shares two children with Rocky, was present in the courtroom to support him.
Rocky, born Rakim Mayers, had been facing two felony charges of assault involving a semiautomatic firearm. A conviction could have resulted in a prison sentence of up to 24 years. The case centered around allegations that Rocky fired two shots at his former friend, A$AP Relli, near the W Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard on November 6, 2021.
The defense argued that the firearm in question was merely a prop designed to discharge blanks, a claim supported by multiple witnesses. However, the weapon itself was never recovered, according to reports.
During closing arguments, Rocky’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, dismissed Relli’s testimony, labeling him a “perjury machine” and emphasizing that the injuries sustained were minor, described as “knuckle scrapes,” as reported by the New York Times.
In a statement, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman acknowledged the verdict, stating, “While today’s outcome is not what we hoped for, we respect the jury’s decision and the principles of our justice system.” He reiterated his office’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for unlawful actions, regardless of their fame or influence, emphasizing that “no one is above the law.”
Rocky, a three-time Grammy nominee, recently earned recognition for his work on the music video “Tailor Swif,” released on August 30, 2024, ahead of his upcoming fourth album, Don’t Be Dumb.
For a glimpse of the courtroom moment when A$AP Rocky was declared not guilty, watch the video above.
