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 direction of the gallery as the decision is given in his felony assault trial at Clara Shortridge Foltz Legal Justice Middle on Feb. 18, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Daniel Cole-Pool/Getty Photos)
“I didn’t know the way athletic he was,” Rocky’s lawyer Joe Tacopina advised reporters outdoors the courthouse. “That was uncooked emotion, you guys acquired to see that. Even for us it was insane.”
After a tense three-week trial, the jury deliberated for simply three hours to achieve 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 advised the jurors as they left the courtroom.
“Mr. Mayers, you’re excused,” Choose Mark Arnold mentioned.
On the eve of trial, Rocky turned down a prosecution supply of simply six months in jail, together with probation and different circumstances, if he pleaded responsible to at least one depend.
Prosecutors and their witnesses mentioned Rocky was feuding with a former good friend, A$AP Relli. The pair had been in a crew who known as themselves the A$AP Mob since highschool. They mentioned 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 mentioned one of many photographs grazed his knuckle. He was not critically harm.
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Tacopina mentioned in his closing argument that Relli is “an indignant pathological liar” who “dedicated perjury time and again and time and again.”
Rocky’s legal professionals and the witnesses they known as mentioned 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 mentioned 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 method following the three-week trial.
In his closing argument, Deputy District Legal professional John Lewin urged the jurors to not be influenced by the celeb or household features 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 aren’t allowed to contemplate how this would possibly have an effect on Rihanna and his youngsters,” the prosecutor mentioned. “We’re all accountable for our personal actions on this planet.”
The 36-year-old rapper hugged his defence legal professionals, as did Rihanna, who was in attendance for many of the trial.
Rakim Mayers, aka A$AP Rocky, reacts in court docket as the decision is given in his felony assault trial at Clara Shortridge Foltz Legal Justice Middle on Feb. 18, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Daniel Cole-Pool/Getty Photos
District Legal professional Nathan Hochman mentioned he revered the jury’s resolution.
“Our workplace stays dedicated to looking for accountability for many who break the legislation, irrespective of their standing or affect,” Hochman mentioned in an announcement. “Fame doesn’t place anybody above the legislation, and we won’t waver in our pursuit of justice for victims and the neighborhood.”
Rocky was greater than half-hour late for the studying of the decision and regarded shaken and tense as he waited for the clerk to learn it.
“There was a second when earlier than we heard the phrases from the clerk, he didn’t know if he was going to be spending the following 20 years in jail or going house,” Tacopina mentioned.
Following the decision, Rocky spoke to reporters outdoors the courthouse.
“To start with, I acquired to thank God. We wish to thank God first, you understand what I’m saying?” Rocky advised the press. “And I actually wish to thank the jury for making the correct resolution. I’m simply so grateful. That is loopy proper now.
“This complete expertise has been loopy for the previous 4 years,” he continued. “However I’m grateful, nonetheless. I’m grateful and blessed to be right here proper now to be a free man speaking to y’all. Thanks. All reward to God.”
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are seen outdoors Clara Shortridge Foltz Legal Justice Middle on Feb. 18, 2025 in Los Angeles.
DUTCH/Bauer-Griffin/GC Photos
Rihanna additionally shared an announcement on her Instagram Tales, writing, “The glory belongs to God and God alone! Grateful, 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.
Regardless of the authorized battle, Rocky has an thrilling yr forward.
He’s set 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 trend’s largest night time, the Met Gala, as a star co-chair together with LeBron James and Pharrell Williams in Could. 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 recordsdata from The Related Press
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