Following the final proceedings of his felony assault trial, on Friday, February 14, where the defense and prosecution concluded their closing statements and District Attorney John Lewin asked the jury not to be swayed by Rihanna's presence in the court, A$AP Rocky has been found not guilty.
Per the Los Angeles' Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, each jury member agreed the Tuesday, February 18 outcome was their "individual true and correct verdict.” Acquitting the rapper — who was accused of firing a semi-automatic handgun at his former friend and A$AP Mob member A$AP Relli in an altercation in November 2021 — of two charges of felony assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
Rocky, who was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on April 20, 2022 and released on bail the same day, turned down a plea deal from prosecutors. Opting for a jury trial instead of pleading guilty to one of two felony charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, that had him facing up to 24 years in prison if found guilty.
So needless to say, following the first verdict ruling, a rightfully overjoyed Rocky jumped over the stand to hug his mother, sister and partner Rihanna. Additionally directing his gratitude, towards the jury, saying, ”Thank y'all for saving my life. Thank y'all for making the right decision.” The judge also thanked the jury for their time, noting, “We cannot have jury trials without folks like you.”
Rihanna, who since January 29 has shown up to the trial on several occasions to support the rapper, also expressed gratitude following Rocky's acquittal, sharing an Instagram story that read, "The glory belongs to God and God alone! Thankful, humbled by His mercy!,” alongside the praying hands emoji.
During the trial’s opening statements, Rocky's lawyer Joe Tacopina claimed the rapper was carrying a "prop gun" in the case of potential threats. "For Relli, it was never about justice... it’s about a man seeking a profit from a fabricated narrative," Tacopina said. "Rocky has nothing to hide here.”
The prosecution team recounted the events leading up to the altercation, claiming that Relli showed up thinking they would just "argue" and it would "repair their relationship.” With Deputy District Attorney Paul Przelomiec noting in his opening statement that “this is not a complicated case… The defense will turn in an alternative explanation to what happened that night… we ask that you do not leave your common sense at the door.”
During closing statements, which began on February 13, the prosecution claimed that the gun was a prop gun "illogical" and “absurd." Meanwhile, the defense told the jury there was inconsistencies in Relli's story and that he "lied to your faces.” Adding, ”Everything that doesn’t come from Relli shows you that this is not a real gun.”
For those curious about what went down in the lead up to the trail and subsequent acquittal — here’s a brief overview.
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Ahead of the trail, during a November 2023 hearing, Detective Frank Flores took the stand to discuss a new surveillance video that was unveiled where two loud pops, which the prosecution team claimed were the alleged shooting, were heard but not seen. This followed previous footage that was shown in a prior hearing that month.
After reviewing the footage during the investigation, Flores claimed that Rocky had a gun in his hand during the altercation. However, under cross-examination, he revealed the gun was never recovered. Meanwhile, the two shell casings that were recovered from the scene by Relli and turned in to police two days after the altercation had no fingerprints.
Additionally at the previous hearing, a photo of Relli's minor injuries were displayed in the courtroom. Showing small patches of raw, bloody skin on the knuckles of his index, middle, and ring fingers on his left hand.
Relli filed a civil lawsuit for assault, battery, and emotional distress against Rocky on August 10, 2022. Claiming he was struck by bullet fragments after the argument and said in court that he sought necessary medical attention at a New York City hospital. However, Rocky has denied all claims.
In response to the civil complaint, Rocky's attorney's wrote "Defendant generally denies each and every allegation of the complaint, and specifically denies that Plaintiff has been damaged in any amount or in any way as a result of any act or omission of answering defendant. The injuries and/or damages complained of in the complaint, if any, were caused solely, directly and proximately by the negligent and/or intentional acts or omissions of person other than answering defendant.”
While on the stand in November, Relli claimed the two were "really cool" before tension started because Rocky found solo success and became “big-headed."
Discussing the night of the altercation, Relli recalled overhearing Rocky badmouthing him on speakerphone to another friend and decided to end their friendship.
Relli additionally told the court during the November 2023 hearing that he later spotted Rocky with his two friends Illijah Ulanga (A$AP Illz) and Jamil Phillips (A$AP Twelvyy) in front of a parking garage on Hollywood Boulevard. Surveillance video shown in the courtroom appeared to show Rocky walking toward Relli and shoving him. The surveillance footage (with no sound) then showed the group of men involved in an altercation.