A$AP Rocky found not guilty in felony assault trial that accused him of firing gun at former friend

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A$AP Rocky was recovered not blameworthy successful the felony battle proceedings that accused him of firing 2 shots astatine a erstwhile person connected a Hollywood thoroughfare country successful 2021.

The assemblage of 7 women and 5 men reached their unanimous determination close earlier 3 p.m. Tuesday aft deliberating for lone astir 3 hours aft a three-week proceedings that ended with closing arguments connected Friday.

The hip-hop prima is charged with 2 felony counts of battle with a semiautomatic firearm.

Jurors got the lawsuit precocious Friday aft a authoritative told them successful his closing statement that they indispensable acceptable speech their feelings for the hip-hop star, his singing superstar spouse Rihanna, and their tiny children.

Rihanna came to tribunal soon aft closing arguments began Thursday, arsenic she did often during the three-week trial. But for the archetypal clip she brought their 2-year-old and 1-year-old sons.

Deputy District Attorney John Lewin suggested it was an effort to manipulate jurors.

"They brought successful 2 adorable children yesterday for closing argument," Lewin said. "They haven't been present immoderate different time. And you person to inquire yourselves, wherefore children that property would beryllium present successful a concern similar this?"

He added, "You are not allowed to see however this mightiness impact Rihanna and his kids. We are each liable for our ain actions successful the world."

Rihanna was sitting with Rocky's parent and sister, without the children, connected Friday. She and Rocky near the courtroom together, surrounded by security.

Rocky's attorneys argued that helium lone fired blanks that evening successful 2021 from a prop weapon helium had picked up for information connected a euphony video shoot.

During his closing argument, lawyer Joe Tacopina formed his accuser, who goes by A$AP Relli, arsenic the aggressor and an unreliable liar.

Tacopina showed the assemblage belligerent substance messages from conscionable earlier the confrontation, aboriginal deleted by Relli, wherever helium urges Rocky to bushed him up. The prosecution had shown lone Rocky's aggravated responses to suggest helium started the fight. But it was not the opposing lawyers' fault, helium said.

"Their witnesser lied to them, lied to police, and deleted the messages," Tacopina said. "He destroyed evidence."

Tacopina showed jurors the transcript of the infinitesimal during grounds that helium confronted Relli astir the messages.

"At archetypal helium said, 'I don't recall.' Then I showed him the messages," Tacopina said. "What did helium accidental next? His go-to line. 'It's fake! It's fake!' Anything that crushed him was fake."

He dwelled connected however combative Relli was connected the stand.

"That was successful beforehand of you," Tacopina said. "Imagine what he's similar successful the street."

Shifting to the street, Tacopina narrated the surveillance video that partially showed the archetypal confrontation to accidental Relli started the fight. He pointed retired that the video shows Relli raising his limb to instrumentality connected Rocky arsenic the archetypal determination - though Rocky is retired of framework astatine that moment.

"If you had to marque a decision, the astir important successful your beingness oregon that of your family's, connected his word, would you bash it? You each cognize what the reply to that question is," the lawyer said. Then helium pointed astatine Rocky. "What you're being asked to bash is to marque that determination successful the astir important substance of his life."

Relli said his knuckles were grazed by 1 of the shots but helium was different not injured.

Even if jurors don't bargain the phony weapon argument, they tin acquit by uncovering that Rocky was acting successful defence of himself oregon his friends.

Neither broadside produced a weapon arsenic evidence.

In his rebuttal, Lewin said, "If it is simply a prop gun, determination is nary self-defense."

Lewin told jurors this could beryllium "a five-minute verdict."

"Once you determine it's not a prop weapon - and it's not a prop gun," helium said, "the lawsuit is over."

He returned repeatedly to Rocky's status.

"He is simply a big, important man, and everybody serves him," Lewin said.

That includes, helium said, 2 men from his interior ellipse who testified helium had picked up the prop weapon astatine a euphony video and for months had been carrying it.

"They were conscionable liars, commencement to finish," Lewin said.

During a interruption successful the presentation, Judge Mark Arnold told Lewin to halt the references to Rocky's family.

"The mode successful which you did it - I don't deliberation it was improper," the justice said. "But you cannot notation again Rihanna being successful the courtroom, oregon the kids being successful the courtroom."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.