The artist, who shares two children with singer Rihanna, faced over 20 years in prison if convicted of allegedly attacking a former friend in Hollywood in 2021. He was arrested in 2022.
Upon hearing the not guilty verdict, the Grammy-nominated star, born Rakim Mayers, expressed relief, hugging those around him in the courtroom.
During the trial, prosecutors claimed that Mayers had fired a nine-millimetre semi-automatic weapon during a confrontation with Terell Ephron, aka A$AP Relli, on November 6, 2021, in Hollywood. They alleged that the shot grazed Ephron’s hand.
Mayers, 36, maintained he was only carrying a harmless prop gun.
The two men had been friends and both part of the A$AP Mob, a New York rap collective, but their relationship soured as other group members felt Mayers’ success led to him becoming arrogant.
Ephron testified that he was invited to a parking garage for a meeting, part of which was captured on grainy surveillance footage. He claimed that after an exchange of words, Mayers drew a gun from his waistband, pointed it at Ephron’s stomach, and threatened, “I’ll kill you right now.” Ephron said two shots were fired, with one grazing his knuckles.
Mayers’ defence attorney, Joe Tacopina, argued that the weapon was nothing more than a prop gun used in movies and music videos. He described Ephron as “a criminal and a perjurer,” pointing out that seven police officers searched the scene hours after the shooting but found no shell casings or weapon.
However, Tacopina stated that Ephron later returned to the scene and found two nine-millimetre shell casings, which he claimed to have picked up from the street after being shot at.
Neither side could produce the weapon in question.
Tacopina argued that the entire shooting incident was fabricated to extort money from his successful client, describing the case as a "mirage" that the jury saw through. He called on the district attorney to investigate Ephron for potential extortion.
Tacopina also praised Mayers and Rihanna, calling them "the greatest people."
There was no immediate comment from either Mayers or Rihanna, who had attended the trial frequently.
A$AP Rocky rose to fame in the early 2010s with the success of his album Long. Live. A$AP and At. Long. Last. A$AP. In 2019, he was given a suspended prison sentence in Sweden following a fight that sparked diplomatic tensions, prompting intervention from then-president Donald Trump.
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