Jury Begins Deliberations in A$AP Rocky Assault Case

The felony assault trial of rapper A$AP Rocky, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers, is nearing its conclusion as the jury prepares to deliberate on charges stemming from a November 2021 altercation in Hollywood. Mayers faces two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, which could result in up to 24 years in prison if convicted. The prosecution claims he fired two shots at former friend Terell Ephron, known as A$AP Relli, while the defense argues that the weapon was a prop gun and that Ephron is unreliable due to financial motives in a civil lawsuit against Mayers. The jury, composed of seven women and five men, received the case late Friday and will begin deliberations following the Presidents’ Day holiday. Notably, global music icon Rihanna attended several court sessions, including the closing arguments, which prosecutors suggested was an attempt to sway jurors. As deliberations commence, the jury must assess the evidence and determine the authenticity of the firearm used and the intent behind its discharge.