A$AP Rocky Acquitted in Shooting Trial
In a decisive verdict, a Los Angeles jury found A$AP Rocky (real name Rakim Mayers) not guilty of assault charges stemming from a shooting incident involving his former associate, A$AP Relli (Terell Ephron).
The trial, which spanned three weeks, witnessed intense courtroom drama and legal battles. Rocky's defense attorney, Joe Tacopina, argued that the shooting never occurred and that Ephron planted evidence to extort Rocky, citing his $30 million civil suit against the rapper.
Ephron testified that Rocky fired shots at him outside the W Hotel in Hollywood in November 2021, grazing his hand. However, Tacopina dismissed these injuries as "knuckle scrapes" and maintained that Rocky only brandished a prop gun to break up a scuffle. A friend of Rocky's, A$AP Twelvyy (Jamel Phillips), corroborated this claim, stating that Rocky fired shots to deter Ephron from pursuing another member of their entourage.
The key turning point in the trial emerged when Ephron admitted to firing a semi-automatic pistol at a Los Angeles gun range two weeks prior to the alleged incident. Tacopina seized upon this inconsistency, alleging that Ephron had "planted" the shell casings found at the scene.
Prosecutor John Lewin and Tacopina engaged in a heated exchange, accusing each other of unethical behavior and perjury. Judge Mark Arnold intervened to restore order.
Throughout the trial, Rocky's partner, Rihanna, attended the courtroom in support but was not called to testify. Rocky faced up to 24 years in prison if convicted but declined a plea deal of 180 days in jail.
The jury's verdict erupted in cheers and relief for Rocky and his defense team. The acquittal brings closure to a highly publicized case that has captivated the entertainment industry.