Rakim Mayers, the American rapper and fashion icon known as A$AP Rocky, has been acquitted of two felony charges by a Los Angeles court.
The “Praise the Lord” crooner, pronounced not guilty, had previously been sued by Terrell Ephron (A$AP Relli), a former associate of Rocky’s group, A$AP Mob. Ephron alleged that he was grazed by a bullet after Rocky fired at him during a heated argument outside a hotel a few meters from the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 6, 2021.
Ephron testified that Rocky threatened to kill him, pointing a gun close to his face and saying, “I’ll kill you right now,” before walking away. Ephron claimed that when he followed Rocky, shouting after him, the rapper fired multiple shots, with one bullet grazing his knuckles.
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The defense, however, argued that the gun was a prop, while prosecutors maintained that it was real. According to the defense, police found no weapon or bullet shell casings at the scene when the incident was reported, suggesting that Ephron was fabricating evidence to implicate Rocky. The trial relied on surveillance footage and testimony, though there was no direct video evidence of the shooting.
A$AP Rocky denied the allegations, stating that his former friend was merely trying to extort money from him. The trial, which could have resulted in a 24-year prison sentence for Rocky, ended with a not-guilty verdict on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
The rapper is set to release his first solo album in nearly a decade and is scheduled to co-headline Los Angeles’ Rolling Loud festival in March 2025.