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
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.
