On Tuesday, A$AP Rocky, who has the birth name Rakim Mayers, secured a not-guilty verdict from Los Angeles court jurors on two felony assault counts. The popular music artist A$AP Rocky faced the potential for over 20 years behind bars after being accused of shooting at his former friend in 2021.
When the court announced the verdict, the room exploded, and Mayers embraced his supporters with joy. Throughout his entire trial period, the Grammy-nominated artist defended his innocence by stating that the weapon used was only a prop.
The 2021 Hollywood Incident
The prosecution presented evidence that Mayers discharged a nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol against Terell Ephron, known by the stage name A$AP Rocky, in their November 6, 2021, encounter. The claims show Ephron received a bullet wound on his hand when a shooting happened inside a Hollywood parking facility.
Mayers refuted the allegations and maintained possession of a harmless equipment gun. Before their rif,t Mayers and Ephron belonged to a close friendship that included membership in the A$AP Mob from New York City, yet had experienced a complete breakup, and other members accused Mayers of becoming arrogant due to his rising fame.
Conflicting Testimonies and Missing Evidence
According to Ephron’s testimony, Mayers used deception to bring him to the parking lot, where the gunman pulled a firearm while threatening to kill him immediately. According to his testimony, Mayers fired two bullets, and one bullet accidentally hit his knuckles.
Joe Tacopina defended his client Mayers by saying the weapon described as a “starter gun, a blank gun, a fake gun” has previously been used in music videos. Seven police personnel who inspected the search area failed to discover any evidence,e including gun shells or a weapon.
According to the defense argument, officers had abandoned the scene before Ephron made his self-discovered finding of two shell casings, possibly indicating staged evidence. During the trial, both parties failed to present the weapon that police identified as being used that night.
An Attempted ‘Extortion’?
Tacopina claimed Ephron made up the account after the trial to extract reward from Mayers.
“This was an extortion case, plain and simple,” he told reporters.
Ephron should be subjected to legal prosecution for perjury, according to the attorney. During the trial, Tacopina acknowledged Mayers and Rihanna as two of the best individuals he had ever known. The jury verdict has received no public statement from either Mayers or Rihanna.
A$AP Rocky’s Past Legal Troubles
A$AP Rocky grows fame from his two successful albums, Long. Live. A$AP and At. Long. Last. A$AP yet has a history of legal problems. A Swedish court handed out a suspended sentence to the performer in 2019 after he fought on the street, leading then-U.S. President Donald Trump to take interest in the case.
