Rapper A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, has been acquitted of two felony assault charges by a Los Angeles jury. The charges, which stemmed from an alleged shooting involving his former friend Terell Ephron, carried a potential sentence of up to 24 years in prison.
Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli, claimed that the Grammy-nominated rapper fired a gun at him during a heated argument on November 6, 2021, grazing his knuckles with one of the shots. However, Mayers denied the allegations, insisting that the gun in question was a prop and that Ephron was motivated by financial gain.
As the first not-guilty verdict was read on Tuesday, the courtroom erupted with screams and applause. Mayers immediately leaped over a wooden barrier to embrace his family and his longtime partner, pop superstar Rihanna, who had been a consistent presence during the trial. The couple’s two young sons, RZA (2) and Riot (1), were also in attendance.
Tearing up, Mayers expressed gratitude, saying, “Thank God for saving my life.” He also personally thanked the 12-person jury for their decision.
Mayers and Ephron, high school friends from New York and former members of the A$AP Mob hip-hop collective, had a falling-out as Mayers’ career soared. On the night of the alleged incident, the two reportedly had a dispute that escalated into a confrontation outside a hotel near the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Ephron alleged that Mayers pulled out a firearm, pointed it at him, and threatened, “I’ll kill you right now.” When he dared Mayers to shoot, the rapper walked away, but Ephron followed and continued shouting at him. Prosecutors claimed that Mayers then turned back, pulled out the gun again, and fired multiple shots, with one bullet grazing Ephron’s knuckles.
The case hinged on whether the alleged firearm was a real weapon capable of causing harm or a harmless prop gun, as Mayers’ defense team argued. The weapon in question has never been recovered by authorities.
Ephron did not report the shooting until two days later and brought shell casings he claimed to have retrieved from the scene. However, police who initially responded to reports of gunfire did not find any casings, and no surveillance footage corroborated Ephron’s claims. Furthermore, instead of seeking medical attention in Los Angeles, Ephron reportedly waited until he returned to New York to receive treatment.
Mayers’ defense suggested that Ephron had planted the shell casings to frame the rapper, casting doubt on his credibility.
The trial saw intense exchanges, particularly during Ephron’s testimony. At one point, he called defense attorney Joe Tacopina “annoying,” leading to a reprimand from the judge.
In a surprising courtroom moment, when a witness was asked about the meaning of “AWGE” (a branding associated with A$AP Rocky), Mayers interrupted, shouting, “Don’t say!” The outburst was highly unusual, as defendants rarely interject in front of a jury, especially to instruct a witness during cross-examination.
With the trial behind him, Mayers is now focused on his career. He is set to release his first solo album in nearly a decade and will co-headline Los Angeles’ Rolling Loud festival in March 2025. Additionally, he stars alongside Denzel Washington in Spike Lee’s upcoming film Highest 2 Lowest, set for release in the coming months.
