U.S. rapper ASAP Rocky has been acquitted of assault charges in a Los Angeles court following a jury verdict on Tuesday.
The rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, had faced two felony counts of assault with a firearm related to a November 2021 incident in Hollywood. Prosecutors alleged that he pulled a gun and fired at his former friend, fellow rapper ASAP Relli, during an argument, causing minor injuries to Relli’s hand.
The trial, which lasted several weeks, saw the 36-year-old musician maintaining his innocence. His defense team argued that he was carrying a prop gun incapable of firing real bullets, a claim supported by two members of the hip-hop collective ASAP Mob who testified in court.
ASAP Rocky was arrested in April 2022 and later formally charged. If convicted, he could have faced a lengthy prison sentence.
His partner, global music star Rihanna, attended several days of the trial. The couple shares two young children.
With the acquittal, ASAP Rocky avoids criminal penalties, bringing an end to the high-profile case that had drawn significant media attention.
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