A Los Angeles jury has acquitted rapper A$AP Rocky on both counts of assault with a firearm. The non-Black jury’s verdict was read before a packed courtroom on Tuesday.
Rocky’s common-law wife Rihanna leapt up, as Rocky’s supporters cheered in the courtroom.
“Thank y’all for saving my life,” Rocky told the jury as they exited the courtroom.
Rihanna attended the trial last week with the couple’s two sons, RZA and Riot Rose. The prosecution objected to Rihanna attempting to sway the jury with the 2 babies.
“They brought in two adorable children yesterday for closing argument,” Deputy District Attorney John Lewin said Friday. “They haven’t been here any other time. And you have to ask yourselves, why children that age would be here in a situation like this.”
Rocky was on trial for firing a gun at a former friend, A$AP Relli, in Hollywood in 2021. Relli suffered a grazed knuckle.
Rocky’s attorney Joe Tacopina claims the gun was a starter pistol that the rapper carried for protection.
Rocky previously waived a prosecutor’s offer for a plea deal that included 6 months in jail and 7 years probation.
He faced up to 24 years in prison if convicted of assault with a firearm.