Rapper A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, was found not guilty on two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. The verdict, delivered Tuesday, concludes a weeks-long trial in Los Angeles centered around a November 2021 incident. Following the decision, Mayers embraced his partner, Rihanna, in the courtroom gallery.
The charges stemmed from an altercation with a former friend, A$AP Relli, where Mayers allegedly fired a handgun. Relli sustained minor injuries to his hand. Mayers' attorney, Joe Tacopina, maintained throughout the trial that the weapon was a prop gun loaded with blanks, carried for security. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman, while respecting the jury's decision, emphasized the commitment of his office to pursuing justice regardless of an individual's status.
Expressing relief outside the courtroom, Mayers thanked God and the jury for "making the right decision." Rihanna, who attended the trial and brought their two young children on one occasion, reportedly cried and hugged the defense lawyers upon hearing the verdict. She later shared a message on her Instagram story, expressing gratitude to God. Deputy District Attorney John Lewin, in his closing argument, had urged the jury not to be swayed by the couple's celebrity status, even suggesting that Rihanna's presence with their children was an attempt to influence the outcome.
