Musician A$AP Rocky was acquitted after facing charges of felony assault with a semi automatic firearm after his former friend Terell “A$AP Relli” claimed that a bullet shot by Rocky grazed his knuckles. This case centered on an altercation that took place in November of 2021. According to the prosecutors, Rocky allegedly fired two shots in the direction of his former friend and collaborator, Terell “A$AP Relli” Ephron. Ephron claimed that one of the bullets fired had grazed his knuckles. After the intense interaction, A$AP Rocky was charged with two felony counts of assault with a semi automatic firearm. The penalties? A conviction that could have meant up to 24 years behind bars.
Rocky pleaded not guilty on January 8th, 2024, turning down a plea deal with a much shorter jail sentence. His defense maintained that the weapon was only a prop, and that no harm was done other than verbal arguments. The trial took a while to begin as the court dates had to keep getting rescheduled. One hearing was set on March 6, 2024, but Rocky’s failure to appear ultimately set the final date on January 21, 2025. Along with the finalized date came the unusual decision by the judge to allow cameras in the courtroom to ensure that the proceedings would be available to the public.
Over the course of a three-week trial, both sides presented their cases. According to reports, the confrontation stemmed from a disagreement over Rocky’s alleged failure to fulfill a promise to cover the costs of transporting a deceased mutual friend’s body back to New York. However, other accounts suggest that Relli was the aggressor, and Rocky fired a starter pistol to break up a fight between Relli and another member of their crew. The prosecution argued that Rocky had discharged a firearm during the heat of an argument, bringing forward witness testimony and security camera footage that featured someone who looked like the rapper holding a gun. Crucially, though, the firearm itself was never recovered.
Rocky’s defense attorneys maintained that a real gun was not used during the incident. They argued that the device used was a prop gun, which was capable of only firing blanks and that any discharge was in self-defense as he was in a violent argument. Testimony from witnesses for the defense backed up this version of what had occurred, which basically stated that the lack of physical evidence confirmed the altercation was a staged event rather than an intentional act of violence.
After a stressful three weeks for both parties, the verdict was final: A$AP Rocky was found not guilty. Surprisingly, the jury deliberation only spanned about three hours, a duration that hinted at their favor towards Rocky’s team. Rocky, who was visibly relieved, thanked the jury by saying, “Thank y’all for saving my life.” His reaction, in addition to the presence of his girlfriend Rihanna and his family in the courtroom, underscored the deeply personal and emotional impact of the trial’s outcome.
