On Feb. 18, American rapper and model A$AP Rocky was found not guilty in a felony assault trial that accused him of firing two shots at a former friend near a Hollywood parking garage on Nov. 6, 2021.
In this trial, prosecutors and witnesses believed that Rocky was arguing with a former friend, A$AP Relli. Rocky and Relli had been part of a group called A$AP Mob since they were in high school.
“They said the two men met up in Hollywood on Nov. 6, 2021, and after a scuffle that also included their high school friends A$AP Twelvyy and A$AP Illz, Rocky pulled out the gun and fired twice at Relli, who said one of the shots grazed his knuckle but was not seriously hurt,” according to Associated Press News reporter Andrew Dalton in an article dated Feb. 19, 2025.
The trial depended on the jurors’ decision of the assessment of the gun. According to The New York Times, the defense testified that the firearm was a prop gun acquired at the filming of a music video. In the trial no gun was present nor did Rocky take the stand in his defense.
The jurors were told that if they believed Rocky´s friends that night were in imminent danger of injury, and if he used reasonable force, they could find the defendant not guilty. It is unclear what path the jurors took in making their decision, but they did not agree with the prosecution’s case. They reached a unanimous conclusion in three hours.
After the jurors absolved Rocky of responsibility leaped into the arms of his girlfriend, Rihanna, in the courtroom. Outside of the courtroom, Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina was seen showing support to the couple.
“They are seriously the greatest people,” lawyer Tacopina said in an article from New York Post. ¨And I said I love them, and I really do love them. I got emotional in my summation because I care about them. This is one of the happiest days of my life and I’m happy for them that they’ve earned and deserve it.”
In addition to Rihanna being present, she brought their two sons, RZA Athelston Mayers and Riot Rose Mayers,for the final court session. Deputy District Attorney John Lewin believed that bringing their sons was an act of manipulation aimed at the jurors.
“They brought in two adorable children yesterday for closing argument,’ Lewin said in an article from ABC7. ‘They haven’t been here any other time. And you have to ask yourselves why children that age would be here in a situation like this.”
After the trial, Tacopina addressed the statement Lewi made during a press conference.
“I took offense to prosecutor Lewin saying that they manufactured some sort of appearance of family in this summation,’ Tacopina said. They’re a family,’ That’s why she was here to support and that’s why his kids came here so much for him.”
As the trial of Rocky ended with a not guilty verdict, his lawyer expressed gratitude for the outcome but received criticism for the presence of Rocky’s children at the final court decision.
