Rapper A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, has been acquitted of two felony assault charges following a trial in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The case centred around a 2021 incident in Hollywood involving his former friend Terell Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli.
If convicted, Mayers faced over two decades in prison, but the jury's decision concluded the charges were unsubstantiated. The verdict was met with a mix of relief and celebration in the courtroom, as Mayers embraced supporters after being declared not guilty.
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Assault allegations
Prosecutors alleged that on 6 November 2021, Mayers fired a nine-millimetre semi-automatic weapon during a confrontation with Ephron in a Hollywood parking garage. Ephron claimed that Mayers shot at him, grazing his hand. Ephron told the jury, "After the two exchanged words, Mayers pulled a gun from his waistband, put it toward Relli's stomach and said, 'I'll kill you right now.'" He said two bullets were fired, with one of them grazing his knuckles.
However, Mayers denied the allegations, insisting that he had only been carrying a harmless prop gun, often used in movies and music videos. "The weapon was absolutely nothing more than a prop gun... a starter gun, a blank gun, a fake gun. It's used in pop movies and music videos," said Mayers' defence attorney, Joe Tacopina.
Defence accuses Ephron of extortion
Mayers’ lawyer, Joe Tacopina, described Ephron as "a criminal and a perjurer" and claimed that the entire shooting story was fabricated in an attempt to extort money from his successful client. Tacopina highlighted that police had found no shell casings or weapon at the scene, yet Ephron later returned and claimed to have found two shell casings himself. Tacopina stated, "Seven police officers searched the scene of the shooting hours later but found neither shell casings nor a weapon. Yet, after officers left, Ephron returned to the scene and discovered a pair of nine-millimetre shell casings he said he had picked up from the street where he was shot at."
Tacopina also pointed out that no gun had been produced by either side in the case, further undermining the allegations. He praised the jury for seeing through what he described as a "mirage of a case" and said, "I’ve always said this was an extortion. The extortion played out live in court." Tacopina also suggested that the district attorney should reconsider prosecuting Ephron, stating, "The district attorney should look long and hard at prosecuting Terell Ephron."
Throughout the trial, A$AP Rocky's long-time partner, singer Rihanna, attended in support. The case marked another legal challenge for Mayers, who had previously faced international attention when he was involved in a high-profile fight in Sweden in 2019, which led to diplomatic tensions and intervention from former US President Donald Trump.
Mayers is best known for his successful music career, with two critically acclaimed albums, Long. Live. A$AP and At. Long. Last. A$AP, both of which helped establish his reputation in the hip-hop world. Despite the legal challenges, he continues to enjoy immense popularity and a dedicated fan base.
With Agency inputs
Published: 19 Feb 2025, 07:57 am IST
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