A$AP Rocky rushes into Rihanna's arms after jury finds him not guilty in felony assault trial
Courtesy: AFP
Rihanna’s partner, rapper A$AP Rocky, was acquitted of all charges on Tuesday by a jury in his felony criminal trial held in downtown Los Angeles.
The 36-year-old, who has been nominated for a Grammy three times, was accused of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm in connection with a November 2021 shooting in Hollywood, California, involving his former friend, A$AP Relli.
@kcalnews This is the moment rapper A$AP Rocky received a verdict of not guilty on two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. The jury delivered their verdict on Tuesday after a month-long felony assault trial in Los Angeles and just hours after they began deliberating. As soon as the verdict to count one was read, the rapper jumped over the gallery wall to hug his partner, fellow hip-hop icon Rihanna, as many in the courtroom applauded. rihanna asaprocky asap
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The *Take A Bow* singer broke down in tears when the verdict was announced, as her partner had been facing a potential prison sentence of up to 24 years if convicted. A$AP Rocky immediately rushed over and embraced her.
"Thanks y´all for saving my life," A$AP Rocky told the jury, which consisted of seven women and five men, as he exited the courtroom, according to the AP.
Rihanna shared a heartfelt message on Instagram Stories Tuesday evening following the verdict.
"THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD AND GOD ALONE!" the *We Found Love* singer wrote. "THANKFUL, HUMBLED BY HIS MERCY!"
Rakim Mayers, the rapper’s real name, was visibly emotional as he hugged his attorneys after hearing the verdict.
The jury reached a unanimous decision after roughly three hours of deliberation, which followed the conclusion of closing arguments last week.
Before the trial began, the Harlem-born rapper had turned down a plea deal from prosecutors that included a six-month jail sentence and probation.
Under the proposed deal, A$AP Rocky would have been required to plead guilty to one of the charges, according to the AP.
Following the verdict, A$AP Rocky celebrated with Rihanna and his legal team both inside and outside the courtroom.
Prosecutors alleged that the rapper, known for songs such as *Wild for the Night*, *Everyday*, and *Praise the Lord (Da Shine)*, fired two shots at his former associate A$AP Relli.
A$AP Relli testified that he was not seriously injured but had a bullet graze his knuckle.
A$AP Rocky’s defense argued that the shots he fired were actually blanks from a prop gun he had acquired while working on a music video, as reported by the AP.