With a triumphant shout, A$AP Rocky leapt to his feet as the jury deemed him not guilty in his Los Angeles felony assault trial. The rapper then ran to hug his partner Rihanna, seated on the front row of the gallery behind him. Tears of relief etched on their faces.
It marks the end of the three-week trial that embroiled the 36-year-old musician. In 2021, the “Fashion Killa” hitmaker was accused of shooting at his friend and bandmate, A$AP Relli a.k.a Terrell Ephron, following a heated exchange that took place in Hollywood. He later admitted that the hand gun in question was a prop from the set of Rihanna’s music video and that he acted in self defence due to Ephron’s provocation.
“Thank y’all for saving my life,” a beaming A$AP Rocky told jurors in front of the Los Angeles courtroom. “First of all, we want to thank God. We really want to thank the jury for making the right decision.
He added, “This whole experience has been crazy for the past four years. We’re blessed to be here right now, to be a free man talking to y’all.”
Rocky also expressed his gratitude to attorneys Joe Tacopina and his team for their concerted efforts to acquit him. Jokingly, Rocky said that he would now name Joe “A$AP Joe”, the moniker given to the members of his A$AP rapper collective.
His partner Rihanna, with whom Rocky shares two sons, also took to Instagram to celebrate.
“THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD AND GOD ALONE!” The “Work” singer wrote. “THANKFUL, HUMBLED BY HIS MERCY!”
Their elation is understandable. Had he been found guilty, the rapper would have faced up to 24 years in prison.