Why A$AP Rocky was in court as rapper leaps behind benches to Rihanna after verdict is read out during trial
A$AP Rocky walked out of a Los Angeles court room as a free man yesterday (18 February).
Footage of the emotional moment he celebrated with the mother of his two children, Rihanna, as the jury's verdict was read out has since gone viral.
The 'Fashion Killa' lyricist, 36, was found not guilty of two felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic weapon.
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The high-profile court case stemmed from a series of damning allegations made by a former friend and collaborator who he has known since high school.
Why was A$AP Rocky in court?
A$AP Rocky was in court to face charges over an alleged altercation involving his ex-mate Terell Ephron, also known by his stage name A$AP Relli.
The pair had been friends since teenagers, attending the same high school in New York, before both eventually went on to become members of the A$AP Mob.
However, their relationship is said to have become strained as Rocky's stardom grew over the years, the BBC reports.
On 6 November, 2021, Ephron claimed that the musician blasted two shots at him with a handgun in the midst of an argument while on a street corner in Hollywood.
He alleged that his knuckles were grazed as a result of Rocky opening fire and later took shell casings to police.
A$AP Rocky's version of events
Rocky, real name Rakim Mayers, denied Relli's accusations and insisted that he was only carrying a 'prop gun' rather than a loaded pistol on the night in question.
He suggested that his former friend had financial motivations, while his lawyer Joe Tacopina claimed to the court that Ephron was an 'angry pathological liar'.
Rocky did not take the stand during his trial and he turned down a plea deal despite the judge warning he could be slapped with a 'significant prison sentence'.
On the shell casings retrieved from the scene, there were no fingerprints, while the gun was not found by authorities, PEOPLE reports.
Surveillance footage also captured parts of their argument on camera which included audible gunfire, the BBC reports, however, the video didn't show any proof of a shooting.
Rocky faced anywhere between 10 to 24 years behind bars if found guilty.
The verdict
Following the three-week trial, the jury - which was made up of seven women and five men - took three hours to reach a verdict in the case.
If they believed Rocky was acting in self defence or that he carried the prop gun for security and only opened fire in a bid to protect himself, they could have acquitted him.
Each of the charges the 'Sundress' rapper faced was for each one of the shots, although it would be extremely unusual for him to be found guilty of one and not the other, according to Associated Press.
After leaping into the gallery to embrace his loved ones, Rocky thanked the 12 people who decided on his fate and delivered a not guilty verdict for 'saving his life'.
Addressing fans and reporters outside of the courthouse, the 36-year-old added: "This whole experience has been crazy for the past 4 years. I’m thankful and it’s blessed to be here right now to be a free man talking to y’all."
What has Rihanna said?
Rihanna has put on a public show of support for her other half throughout the trial, even bringing their two young sons - RZA, 2, and Riot, 1 - in for the closing arguments.
Reports claim the Barbadian hitmaker, 36, was visibly sobbing when she heard the verdict yesterday.
She later took to social media to break her silence on the situation.
In a brief statement via her Instagram story, Rihanna wrote: "The glory belongs to God and to God alone. Thankful, humbled by His mercy."
Last night, Rocky also shared a tweet which referenced the title of his upcoming album in a post which read: "DON’T BE DUMB."
Topics: Celebrity, Celebrity News, Rihanna, US News
Olivia Burke