A$AP Rocky Acquitted in 2021 Shooting Incident

Rapper A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, was acquitted of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm related to a 2021 incident involving his former friend, Terell Ephron (A$AP Relli), in Hollywood. Facing a potential 24-year prison sentence, Rocky chose to reject a plea deal offering a reduced sentence and insisted on his innocence, arguing that the gun was a prop used in self-defense against Ephron's aggression. The jury found reasonable doubt of his guilt, leading to a not guilty verdict after three hours of deliberation. The decision sparked an emotional courtroom scene where Rocky, relieved, thanked the jury for 'saving his life' and embraced his partner, Rihanna. Rihanna expressed her gratitude on social media, attributing the outcome to divine intervention. This trial and its outcome were highly publicized, partly due to Rihanna's presence and support throughout the proceedings.