Rakim Meyers better known as rap star A$AP Rocky, was facing major time behind bars. He was charged with firing a gun at his former friend and one-time bandmate Terell Ephron aka A$AP Relli.
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After two days of deliberation, the jury came back with a unanimous verdict on February 18. The rap star was found not guilty on all charges.
Rihanna Reacts to A$AP Rocky Verdict’
Following the not-guilty verdict, Rihanna, the mother of Rocky’s two children expressed her gratefulness on social media.
“The Glory belongs to God and God alone. THANKFUL, HUMBLED BY HIS MERCY!” Rihanna posted on her Instagram story shortly after the verdict was read.
As the verdict was read in court, an overjoyed A$AP Rocky, ran directly to Rihanna and his family, hugging them tightly.
Rihanna had become a regular fixture in the case. Especially during the last week of evidence and testimonies. The pop star would sometimes also bring her and Rocky’s kids to the courtroom as well. During his closing argument, state attorney John Lewin made sure to alert the jury that the rap star’s wife and children could not play any part in their decision.
“I want to make sure that no matter how famous his [partner] is, no matter how cute his kids are, no matter how much they giggle during closing arguments … he needs to be treated like any other person. Because in the end that’s what he’s entitled to,” Lewin said during the trial.
The entire altercation between A$AP Rocky and A$AP Relli began after Relli became upset because he thought that he had not paid for a childhood friend’s funeral. That led to Relli believing that Rocky had changed up on the group, a group that he introduced the “Fashion Killa,” artist to back when they were in high school.
Following the verdict, Rocky’s attorney Joe Tacopina said that for Relli, the case was never about Justice.
“For Relli, it was never about justice … it’s about a man seeking a profit from a fabricated narrative,” Tacopina said. “Rocky has nothing to hide here.”
