A$AP Rocky Acquitted in Assault Case
Los Angeles, CA – A$AP Rocky, the renowned rapper born Rakim Mayers, has been found not guilty of assault with a semiautomatic firearm after a three-week trial in Los Angeles.
Charges and Allegations
Rocky was charged with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm stemming from an incident on November 6, 2021, near a Hollywood hotel. The alleged victim, Terrell Ephron, formerly known as A$AP Relli, claimed that Rocky fired a gun twice in his direction during an argument. If convicted, Rocky faced up to 24 years in prison.
Trial Highlights
The trial featured several notable moments:
- Rihanna’s Appearances: Rocky’s wife, the singer and billionaire businesswoman Rihanna, attended several days of the trial, offering support to her husband.
- Ephron’s Testimony: Ephron provided animated and passionate testimony, but his contradictory statements regarding key details raised questions about his credibility.
- "You Did This to Yourself!" During cross-examination, Ephron shouted at Rocky, "You did this to yourself!" Judge Mark Arnold instructed Ephron to refrain from addressing the defendant directly.
- Gun Club Video: Ephron initially stated that a video of him at a gun club was taken in New Jersey. However, he later admitted that the video showed him shooting a semiautomatic gun at an LA gun club two weeks before the alleged incident.
Defense Arguments
Rocky’s defense attorney, Joe Tacopina, argued that the alleged weapon was only a prop gun. He presented evidence that Rocky had been carrying a realistic-looking Airsoft pellet gun. Additionally, Tacopina contended that Ephron’s injuries were self-inflicted and that he had fabricated the story to extort money from Rocky.
Jury Deliberations and Verdict
The jury began deliberations on Tuesday morning. After several hours of deliberation, they reached a verdict on Thursday afternoon, finding Rocky not guilty on both assault charges.
Aftermath
The verdict is a significant victory for Rocky, who has maintained his innocence throughout the case. However, he still faces a separate civil lawsuit filed by Ephron.
This case has drawn significant media attention, not only due to Rocky’s fame but also because of the complex nature of the allegations and the colorful testimony of Ephron. The jury’s verdict marks the end of the criminal proceedings, but the civil lawsuit will likely provide further scrutiny of the events that transpired on that fateful night in Hollywood.
