A$AP Rocky was found not guilty on two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm stemming from an argument with childhood friend and bandmate Terell Ephron â also known as A$AP Relli â in 2021.
A jury in Los Angeles came to the verdict on Tuesday after 5 hours of deliberation.
The âFâkinâ Problemsâ rapper, whose legal name is Rakim Athelaston Mayers, was facing up to 24 years in prison, but prosecutors said they were only seeking eight.
Rockyâs attorney, Joe Tacopina, did not immediately return Page Sixâs request for comment. However, Rocky told jurors, âThank yâall for saving my life,â as they left the Los Angeles courtroom.
Rockyâs contentious trial started in late January and lasted about three weeks.
The âPraise the Lordâ rapper maintained that he was innocent and pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. He declined to testify on the stand.
âTrue Crime Newsâ host Ana Garcia called Rockyâs decision to not accept a plea deal a âgamble.â
However, she told The Post earlier this month, âI think heâs got a strong case â I do believe that.â
The New York-born litigator pressed Relli, whose real name is Terell Ephron, on the stand during his cross-examination about his claims that Rocky fired a gun at him after a dispute in Los Angeles in 2021.
However, the rapperâs former friend maintained during the trial that âgun was pulledâ on him.
He testified that the âL$Dâ rapper pointed the gun at his stomach and then his head but it wasnât actually touching him, adding, âItâs been three years. If he was innocent, he would be home a long time ago.â
In a heated moment, Relli shouted at Rocky, âYou did this to yourself!â When reprimanded by the judge, he claimed that he reacted to the âAm I Dreamingâ rapper âstaringâ at him.
Tacopinaâs defense relied in part on the claim that Relli, who had been buddies with Rocky since high school, had grown jealous of the famous rapper.
The lawyer, 58, claimed in his opening statements that Rocky had been carrying a starter pistol with him during the time of the alleged incident that shot only blanks.
Relli was never seriously injured during the scuffle and suffered only bloody scrapes on his knuckles.
Rocky was supported during the trial by his longtime partner Rihanna, with who he shares two kids.
The global pop star, 36, showed up to the Los Angeles courthouse on multiple occasions wearing a stylish outfit and sat beside Rockyâs mother and sister inside the courtroom.
Rihanna has not commented on the final verdict. Page Six has reached out to her rep for comment.
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