Los Angeles, CA – February 18, 2025
Rapper and fashion icon A$AP Rocky, born Rakim Mayers, has been found not guilty in his felony assault trial, marking the end of a high-profile case stemming from a 2021 Hollywood shooting incident.
A Los Angeles jury delivered the verdict at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, clearing the 36-year-old of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. If convicted, Mayers faced up to 24 years in state prison.
As the not-guilty verdict was announced, Mayers embraced his attorneys in relief. The courtroom quickly erupted in celebration, with his longtime partner, Rihanna, among those in attendance. The global pop star, who has been by his side throughout the trial, was seen in court during the closing arguments on February 13, accompanied by the couple’s two young sons, RZA, 2, and Riot Rose, 1.
According to Rolling Stone, Mayers’ mother, Renee Black, and sister, Erika B, were also in the front row as the verdict was read.
The case revolved around a confrontation between Mayers and his former childhood friend, Terell Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli, on November 6, 2021. Prosecutors alleged that Mayers fired multiple shots at Ephron, grazing his knuckles. Ephron, an aspiring music manager, testified for three days, detailing the fallout of their friendship and the altercation.
The trial, which began on January 24, saw five prosecution witnesses take the stand over eight days. Mayers, however, opted not to testify. His legal team argued that the accusations were unsubstantiated, with his lawyer, Joe Tacopina, telling TMZ before the verdict that the case “should be a five-minute acquittal.”
This is not Mayers’ first brush with the law. At 16, he was arrested on attempted murder charges and spent two weeks at Rikers Island before the charges were reduced. In 2019, he was convicted of assault in Sweden after a widely publicized street brawl but was not sentenced to additional jail time.
Prior to the trial, Mayers rejected a plea deal from prosecutors that would have resulted in a six-month jail sentence.
While she did not testify, Rihanna was a consistent presence at the trial, showing her support for her partner. The Fenty Beauty mogul, who has been with Mayers since 2019, has not publicly commented on the case.
Despite his legal battles, A$AP Rocky remains a significant figure in music and fashion. His breakthrough album, Long. Live. ASAP, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2013, cementing his place in hip-hop.
Beyond music, his fashion influence continues to grow. The New York Times recently spotlighted his courtroom attire, and he is set to serve as a celebrity co-chair for the 2025 Met Gala alongside Pharrell Williams, Colman Domingo, Anna Wintour, and Lewis Hamilton. This year’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” will celebrate the evolution of menswear.
With his legal troubles behind him, A$AP Rocky is expected to return to his music and fashion endeavors. Fans eagerly anticipate new projects from the rapper, whose career has seamlessly blended hip-hop and high fashion.
For now, Mayers walks free, closing a chapter that could have dramatically altered his future.
Credit: US Weekly
