A$AP Rocky Found Not Guilty in 2021 Hollywood Shooting Case

A$AP Rocky has been found not guilty in his felony assault trial, bringing an end to the high-profile case in which the rapper was accused of firing a gun at his former friend, A$AP Relli, during a 2021 altercation in Hollywood.

Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, had been facing two felony counts of assault with a firearm, with prosecutors alleging he pulled a gun on Relli and fired shots during a confrontation near a Hollywood hotel. After three weeks of testimony, the jury of seven women and five men deliberated for just three hours before reaching their decision.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors argued Rocky deliberately fired at Relli, born Terell Ephron, while the defense claimed the gun in question was a prop used for security purposes. Rocky, who has pleaded not guilty, rejected a plea deal last week that would have included 180 days in jail.

The trial centered around two separate encounters between Rocky and Ephron that day. According to Ephron’s testimony, Rocky pointed a gun at him and threatened his life, saying, “I’ll kill you right now.” Ephron alleged the gun was aimed “towards my stomach, my head, and shoulder,” and that a bullet grazed his knuckles. However, under cross-examination, he struggled to recall specific details of the incident.

Meanwhile, Rocky’s defense team painted Ephron as unreliable, insisting the weapon never posed a real threat. The video evidence, they argued, supported their claim that the gun fired blanks and was never intended to harm anyone.