A$AP Rocky's Six-Word Message to Jury After Unexpected Verdict in Shooting Trial

The rapper was visibly emotional as the verdict in his trial was announced. His longtime girlfriend and close family members stood by his side, offering their unwavering support.

A$AP Rocky spoke six words to convey his gratitude to the jury after an unexpected verdict in a shooting trial that had faced multiple delays. The case stemmed from allegations brought by a childhood friend.

Tensions between Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, and his former friend A$AP Relli, aka Terell Ephron, escalated in November 2021.

Once close high school friends and members of the A$AP Mob, a hip-hop collective, their relationship deteriorated due to business and personal disputes. Relli claimed that after Rocky rose to fame, he distanced himself from the group that had supported his early career.

One November night, their conflict took a violent turn on a Hollywood sidewalk. Relli revealed that Rocky pulled a gun from his waistband and fired, grazing his hand.

This incident led to a court case in which Relli detailed their past, the financial disputes within A$AP, and the resentment he harbored toward Rocky.

The successful rapper and fashion icon was charged with two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm in August 2022. However, during a preliminary hearing in November 2023, Rocky pleaded not guilty.

The legal proceedings revealed deeper rifts within A$AP, with Relli expressing frustration over financial issues. He claimed to have helped secure placements for the group but never received credit.

As the case progressed, Relli alleged that Rocky had made empty promises about business ventures and failed to support his former friends. He described the current state of the A$AP collective as fractured, with many members struggling financially.

The courtroom proceedings further revealed the depth of the dispute. Relli testified that as he followed Rocky and others onto Selma Avenue on the day of the alleged incident, the rapper turned and fired, causing a burning sensation in his hand.

A photograph presented in court showed the injuries on Relli's left hand, with raw knuckles. He admitted to using another individual as a shield. Relli also recalled how Rocky moved around erratically before firing three to four shots and then fleeing the scene.

An hour later, Relli returned to collect shell casings and sent a video to Rocky, writing, "U try killing me [sic]." The rapper dismissed the claim, responding, "Rell [expletive] u talkin bout?? Why u tellin ppl I shot at u [sic]."

Relli accused Rocky of trying to separate him from his daughter, prompting Rocky to dismiss the claim and suggest calling the police if it were true. Two days later, Relli handed evidence to the Los Angeles Police Department.

During cross-examination, Rocky's attorney, Joe Tacopina, argued Relli fabricated the shooting for financial gain, citing a settlement request a day after Rocky's arrest. He also questioned a text where Relli allegedly wrote, "I'm getting ich [sic]," pressing whether he meant, "I'm getting rich?"

Tacopina pointed out Relli's Florida gun license but noted he wasn't known to carry firearms. Relli shot back, "Yeah, but your client does."

The legal battle took another turn when a Los Angeles judge ruled that there was enough evidence for Rocky to stand trial on charges of firing a gun at Relli. Superior Court Judge M.L. Villar made the decision after a preliminary hearing that included about a day and a half of testimony from two witnesses.

"We're not disappointed, not surprised, we expected to go to trial, we've been planning for trial all along," Tacopina said outside court at the time. "Rocky is going to be vindicated when all this is said and done, without question."

As the case progressed, delays continued to impact the legal proceedings. In October 2024, a judge postponed Rocky's trial, originally set for November, pushing it to January 21, 2025.

The decision came during an October 22 hearing in Los Angeles. Tacopina later explained that the delay was due to scheduling conflicts, including the rapper's performance at Rolling Loud Thailand 2024.

The attorney added that the trial was postponed partly due to Rocky's benefit concert in Bangkok in late November and partly because there were still ongoing issues with discovery.

With the holidays approaching, he noted that all parties agreed, "I think everyone decided it's best to do this in January. It's a firm date." Regarding the judge's decision, Tacopina stated, "If he said no, Rocky would be here on Nov. 12, obviously. I'd be here. But he was very accommodating."

As the trial date shifted once again, discussions turned to who might be in the courtroom when proceedings began. That same month, the judge acknowledged the possibility of Rihanna attending to support her boyfriend Rocky during his jury trial.

"If she wants to come, she can come," Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold reportedly told Tacopina at the hearing where the trial was postponed for the third time.

Without mentioning her by name, the judge asked if "the mother of (Rocky's) two children" would be present. Tacopina said he wasn't sure but noted that while she might attend the start of the trial, it was unlikely she'd be there throughout.

Judge Arnold made it clear that Rocky would not receive special treatment, stating, "He is going to be treated like anybody else."

As the trial got underway on January 21, Rihanna was present in the courtroom to support Rocky. Jury selection marked the start of proceedings, with Relli taking the stand as the prosecution's key witness. However, the accused opted not to testify in his own defense.

A central issue in the case was the gun, which was never recovered. Prosecutors argued it was real, while Rocky's attorneys maintained it was merely a "prop gun" he carried for protection.

After weeks of testimony, the jury reached a verdict on February 18, 2025, acquitting Rocky of felony assault charges linked to the 2021 incident. As the decision was announced, cheers erupted in the courtroom.

The rapper immediately turned to embrace his attorneys and loved ones, including Rihanna, who had been by his side throughout the proceedings.

"Thank y'all for saving my life," were the first six words Rocky uttered to the jurors as they left the courtroom, adding, "Thank you. Thank y'all. You're making the right decision."

In an interview following the verdict, Rocky reflected on the challenges he faced over the past four years, describing the experience as overwhelming but expressing gratitude for the outcome.

The New York native emphasized how fortunate he felt, blessed to be a free man and able to share his thoughts with reporters.

His longtime girlfriend, Rihanna, also acknowledged the moment by sharing a message on her Instagram Story. Her post read, "The glory belongs to God and God alone! Thankful, humbled by His mercy!"

Ahead of the trial, Rocky had declined a plea deal that would have required him to serve 180 days in jail. "Yes, he was offered a plea deal but is not interested because he is actually innocent," Tacopina stated. Had he been convicted, Rocky faced up to 24 years in prison.

This wasn't the first time he had dealt with legal trouble. In 2019, he spent most of July in a Swedish jail following a violent altercation in Stockholm involving his entourage and two unidentified men.

The case drew international attention, with reports suggesting he was being held in poor conditions, accusations of "systemic racism," and even a brief political dispute on X between U.S. president Donald Trump and Swedish officials.

Rocky was arrested in early July 2019, and on August 14, 2019, a jury found him guilty of assault. However, he avoided further jail time, receiving a suspended sentence instead.

A$AP Rocky's acquittal brings an end to a years-long legal battle that could have cost him his freedom. With the support of Rihanna and his loved ones, he can now focus on his career and family without the weight of the case hanging over him. After facing both domestic and international legal challenges, he emerges free, ready to move forward on his own terms.