What Was A$AP Rocky Accused of in the Firearm Assault Trial?
The rapper has been found 'not guilty,' avoiding a 24-year prison sentence
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 18: Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are seen outside of Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center on February 18, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by DUTCH/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, has faced several legal accusations throughout his career. One of the most recent and high-profile cases was the trial for firearm assault in Los Angeles, related to an incident that occurred in 2021.
In November 2021, A$AP Rocky was accused of firing a weapon during a confrontation in Hollywood with his former friend and collaborator, Terell «A$AP Relli» Ephron. According to Ephron’s version of events, the rapper pulled out a gun and fired several shots, one of which grazed his knuckles. As a result, Rocky faced charges of assault with a semi-automatic firearm and carrying a loaded firearm in a public place.
The case went to trial in February 2025, where A$AP Rocky’s defense argued that the weapon involved was a prop gun that only fired blanks and that the rapper had acted in self-defense. After a three-week trial, a Los Angeles jury declared A$AP Rocky not guilty of the charges.
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are seen outside of Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
Other Legal Issues
This has not been the rapper’s only legal trouble. In 2019, A$AP Rocky was arrested in Stockholm, Sweden, after being involved in a street fight. The rapper claimed he acted in self-defense, arguing that the individual involved had been harassing him and his team. After a month in detention, he was found guilty of assault but was not sentenced to additional prison time.
Ana Rojas
Periodista en LOS40, coordinando LOS40 USA y...Periodista en LOS40, coordinando LOS40 USA y colaborando también en El País. Cubro temas de música, cultura y sociedad, con especial enfoque en EEUU y en el panorama de la música latina y urbana. He trabajado y escrito para medios como NYT y The Guardian, además de participar en investigaciones junto a LighthouseReports y la Fundación porCausa.