A$AP Rocky has been acquitted of charges related to firing a gun at his former friend. Upon hearing the verdict at the conclusion of the trial, the rapper embraced his partner, Rihanna. He faced two felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm against Terell Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli, stemming from an incident in November 2021. The court heard that the two were once close friends and members of the A$AP Mob during their high school years in New York, but their relationship deteriorated after Rocky gained fame.
After the verdict was announced, Rocky expressed his gratitude to the jurors, stating, “Thank y’all for saving my life.” He had been facing over 24 years in prison if found guilty. Following the verdict, Rihanna was emotional and embraced the legal team. Speaking to the media outside the courtroom, Rocky said, “First of all, I gotta thank God. I really wanna thank the jury for making the right decision. I’m so thankful this is crazy right now. I’m thankful… we’re blessed to be a freeman talking to all of y’all.”
The courtroom erupted in cheers from Rocky’s supporters after the verdict was delivered. The jury deliberated for only three hours after a three-week trial. During the proceedings, prosecutors presented surveillance footage they claimed showed Rocky firing a gun at Ephron outside a Hollywood parking garage. However, Rocky’s attorney argued that Ephron was motivated by “jealousy, lies, and greed,” and contended that the weapon was merely a “starter pistol” that discharged blanks. Witnesses for Rocky testified that he fired the prop gun as a warning in response to Ephron attacking another member of their group.
The jury was instructed that if they believed Rocky reasonably thought he or his companions were in imminent danger and used reasonable force, they could find him not guilty. It remains unclear whether the acquittal was based on the jury’s belief that Rocky was using a prop gun or that he acted in self-defense. Prior to the trial, Rocky declined a plea deal from the prosecution that would have required him to plead guilty to one of the felony counts and serve 180 days in prison.
