After a jury discovered rapper A$AP Rocky not responsible at his trial on two felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, he celebrated by diving into the arms of Rihanna within the packed courtroom.
The Los Angeles courtroom, stuffed with followers and household, exploded into celebration as Rocky leapt from the defence desk, over a barrier and into the gallery, the place Rihanna sat between his mom, Renee Black, and sister, Erika B. Mayers. They embraced and sobbed.
Amid the chaos, it took the clerk a couple of minutes to learn the second not responsible verdict as soon as Rocky returned to the defence desk after hugging his longtime girlfriend.
Rakim Mayers, aka A$AP Rocky, dives in the direction of the gallery as the decision is given in his felony assault trial at Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center on Feb. 18, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Daniel Cole-Pool/Getty Images)
“I didn’t know how athletic he was,” Rocky’s lawyer Joe Tacopina instructed reporters exterior the courthouse. “That was raw emotion, you guys got to see that. Even for us it was insane.”
After a tense three-week trial, the jury deliberated for simply three hours to succeed in the decision that spared Rocky, whose authorized identify is Rakim Mayers, a jail sentence of as much as 24 years in jail.
“Thank y’all for saving my life,” Rocky instructed the jurors as they left the courtroom.
“Mr. Mayers, you’re excused,” Judge Mark Arnold stated.
On the eve of trial, Rocky turned down a prosecution provide of simply six months in jail, together with probation and different circumstances, if he pleaded responsible to 1 depend.
Prosecutors and their witnesses stated Rocky was feuding with a former pal, A$AP Relli. The pair had been in a crew who referred to as themselves the A$AP Mob since highschool. They stated the 2 males met up in Hollywood on Nov. 6, 2021, and after a scuffle, Rocky pulled the gun and fired twice at Relli, who stated one of many photographs grazed his knuckle. He was not critically harm.
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Tacopina stated in his closing argument that Relli is “an angry pathological liar” who “committed perjury again and again and again and again.”
Rocky’s legal professionals and the witnesses they referred to as stated Rocky had shot a prop gun that solely fires blanks, which he had been carrying for safety since taking it from a music video set months earlier. They stated he fired it as a warning as a result of Relli was attacking one other member of their crew.
Rocky insisted on his innocence and determined to gamble {that a} jury would really feel the identical means following the three-week trial.
In his closing argument, Deputy District Attorney John Lewin urged the jurors to not be influenced by the celeb or household facets of the case, and urged Rihanna bringing the youngsters — two-year-old RZA Athelston Mayers and one-year-old Riot Rose Mayers — to closing arguments was an try to govern the jury.
“You are not allowed to consider how this might affect Rihanna and his kids,” the prosecutor stated. “We are all responsible for our own actions in the world.”
The 36-year-old rapper hugged his defence legal professionals, as did Rihanna, who was in attendance for a lot of the trial.
Rakim Mayers, aka A$AP Rocky, reacts in court docket as the decision is given in his felony assault trial at Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center on Feb. 18, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Daniel Cole-Pool/Getty Images
District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated he revered the jury’s choice.
“Our office remains committed to seeking accountability for those who break the law, no matter their status or influence,” Hochman stated in an announcement. “Fame does not place anyone above the law, and we will not waver in our pursuit of justice for victims and the community.”
Rocky was greater than half-hour late for the studying of the decision and seemed shaken and tense as he waited for the clerk to learn it.
“There was a moment when before we heard the words from the clerk, he didn’t know if he was going to be spending the next two decades in jail or going home,” Tacopina stated.
Following the decision, Rocky spoke to reporters exterior the courthouse.
“First of all, I got to thank God. We want to thank God first, you know what I’m saying?” Rocky instructed the press. “And I really want to thank the jury for making the right decision. I’m just so thankful. This is crazy right now.
“This whole experience has been crazy for the past four years,” he continued. “But I’m thankful, nonetheless. I’m thankful and blessed to be here right now to be a free man talking to y’all. Thank you. All praise to God.”
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are seen exterior Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center on Feb. 18, 2025 in Los Angeles.
DUTCH/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Rihanna additionally shared an announcement on her Instagram Stories, writing, “The glory belongs to God and God alone! Thankful, humbled by his mercy!”
Rihanna’s response to A$AP Rocky’s not responsible verdict.
@BadGalRiRi/Instagram
Rocky additionally took to X after the decision and posted, “DON’T BE DUMB,” in reference to his upcoming fourth studio album.
Despite the authorized battle, Rocky has an thrilling 12 months forward.
He is ready to bask within the top of hip-hop because the headliner of the Rolling Loud music pageant subsequent month. He’ll even be on the top of vogue’s greatest night time, the Met Gala, as a star co-chair together with LeBron James and Pharrell Williams in May. And in the summertime, he provides main movement image actor to his resume because the co-star — with Denzel Washington — in director Spike Lee’s movie Highest 2 Lowest.
—With information from The Associated Press
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