A$AP Rocky Found Not Guilty in Felony Assault Trial with Rihanna by His Side

Image credits: Daniel Cole/Reuters/Pool

A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, has been found not guilty of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, stemming from a 2021 shooting incident with a former friend in Los Angeles. The verdict was handed down on February 18 at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles, with the 36-year-old rapper's partner, Rihanna, and their two young sons, RZA and Riot, present in court. The jury of seven women and five men began their discussions in the morning after three weeks of testimony and arguments that ended on Friday, and they had reached the verdict by mid-afternoon.

The trial began on January 24 and was presided over by Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold. A$AP Rocky was charged with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and he could have faced up to 24 years in prison if convicted. The prosecution's case relied heavily on the testimony of the alleged victim, A$AP Relli, who claimed that Mayers shot at him twice with a semiautomatic handgun, causing bloody injuries to his knuckles. However, the defense argued that Mayers was carrying a prop gun that only fired blanks, and that he was acting in self-defense. The jury was tasked with deciding whether Mayers was guilty of firing two shots with a handgun at A$AP Relli on a Hollywood street corner on November 6, 2021.

Rihanna was a fixture in court throughout the trial, bringing the couple's two sons to closing arguments on February 13. The boys, outfitted in suits, could be heard "cooing" as the prosecutors wrapped up their case. During a break, Mayers carried his younger son down the hall past the jury. Rihanna also posted about her feelings on an Instagram story after the verdict, writing, "The glory belongs to God and God alone. Thankful, humbled by his mercy!" The verdict was met with celebration in the courtroom, with Mayers hugging his lawyers and telling jurors, "Thank y'all for saving my life." Outside court, Mayers and Rihanna put on a united front, with Mayers telling the crowd of reporters and onlookers, "This whole experience has been crazy for the past four years. I'm thankful, and it's blessed to be here right now, to be a free man talking to y'all."

The case drew significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the parties involved, with many celebrities and fans weighing in on social media. A$AP Rocky's lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, told TMZ that the case "should be a five-minute acquittal," and that the prosecution's evidence was lacking. The verdict is seen as a major victory for Mayers, who had rejected a plea deal that could have resulted in a six-month jail sentence. Mayers is now scheduled to headline the Rolling Loud music fest in California in March and co-chair the 2025 Met Gala in May, and is expected to release his fourth studio album, Don't Be Dumb, this year.

In the aftermath of the verdict, many are reflecting on the significance of the case and the impact it could have on the music industry and beyond. The trial highlighted the complexities of self-defense laws and the challenges of prosecuting cases involving high-profile individuals. As Mayers and Rihanna move forward, they will likely continue to be in the spotlight, with many eyes on their next moves. The verdict is a reminder that the justice system is designed to provide a fair and impartial trial, and that the jury plays a critical role in determining the outcome of a case.