A jury found rapper A$AP Rocky not guilty Tuesday on two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
After the verdict was read, Rocky, whose full name is Rakim Mayers, dove into the courtroom gallery to hug his longtime girlfriend, Rihanna, The Associated Press reported.
During the trial, Rocky invoked his 5th Amendment right and waived his right to testify during the weeks-long trial in Los Angeles.
He initially faced 24 years in prison after turning down a 180-day pre-trial plea deal offered by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.
A$AP Rocky was charged with two felony counts stemming from November 2021 incident. (Allison Dinner)
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« Thank y’all for saving my life, » Rocky told the jurors in the courtroom, according to The Associated Press.
Following the verdict, Rocky exited the courtroom and shared a statement with the press.
« We want to thank God first. We got to thank God. I really want to thank the jury for making the right decision. This is so crazy right now, this whole experience has been crazy, » Rocky said.
During the trial, Rihanna was present in the courtroom. On one occasion, she brought both of their toddler sons, and when the verdict was read, she cried and hugged the defense lawyers, The Associated Press reported.
On Tuesday night, Rihanna shared a statement on her Instagram story.
Rihanna shared a message to her Instagram story after the ASAP Rocky verdict. (Badgalriri/Instagram)
« The glory belongs to God and God alone! Thankful, humbled by His mercy! » she wrote, adding a prayer hands emoji.
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The « Praise the Lord » singer was charged with double felony counts stemming from a November 2021 shooting incident in Hollywood, Fox News Digital confirmed at the time.
Rihanna supported A$AP Rocky in court during his trial. (Liam McEwan)
An argument occurred between Rocky and an acquaintance in the Hollywood area on Nov. 6. The argument escalated, and the rapper allegedly fired a handgun at the acquaintance, who sustained minor injuries, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The man he was accused of shooting was a former friend, A$AP Relli, who sustained minor injuries to his hand.
Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, argued that the firearm Rocky shot was a prop gun that only fired blank rounds, which he had been carrying for security purposes for several months.
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Rihanna and A$AP Rocky in 2023. (Christopher Polk)
Deputy District Attorney John Lewin told jurors in his closing argument to not let Rocky or Rihanna’s celebrity influence persuade them, according to the Associated Press.
Lewin even suggested that Rihanna bringing her two sons was an attempt to persuade the jury.
« You are not allowed to consider how this might affect Rihanna and his kids, » Lewin told the jurors. « We are all responsible for our own actions in the world. »
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Fox News Digital’s Janelle Ash contributed to this report.
