Musician A$AP Rocky is not guilty of shooting a former friend after an argument in Hollywood in 2021, spares him from a potentially decades of prison.
A ju umpire in Los Angeles on Tuesday acquitted him of counting two felony charges of attacks with a semi-automatic firearm.
After the verdict was read, the 36-year-old hip-hop star hugged the pigeon in the gallery, hugging longtime partner Rihanna, and thanking the ju-deputy deputies leaving the courtroom.
“Thank you for saving my life,” he said.
The verdict follows a trial for more than two weeks, during which the victim, whose stage name is $ ap relli, testified that Rocky fired two shots from his handgun and grazing his fingers did.
The trial began on January 24th, after Rocky, born in Rakim Athelston Mayers, declined an offer of plea before the lawsuit, claiming he was innocent. If he had been found guilty, Rocky could have faced up to 24 years in prison.
Before the ju-degree judge's ruling, superstar singer Rihanna, Rocky's longtime partner, attended a final discussion with the couple's toddler, two-year-old RZA Aselston Mayers and one-year-old riot Rose Mayers. .
Rocky's defense attorney Joe Takopina represents Donald Trump in a lawsuit with Stormy Daniels and E. Jean Carroll, claiming that Rocky fired a prop gun that he shot from the set of a music video for security reasons. did.
Takopina said that Leri cast as a jealous opportunist and that Leri only reported the case so that he could file a subsequent civil suit against Rocky. In text messages and calls recorded by mutual friends, Leli said millions of people were planning to take Rocky with him. Leli testified that the phone was forged, but the prosecutors made lengthy excerpts during the closing discussion.
In witness testimony, which concluded Tuesday with Rocky not taking a stand, prosecutors alleged that the hip-hop star fired on Leli, Terrell Efron.
“Mr. Efron wants to get paid,” said Deputy District Attorney Paul Pulselomiek, “Because he was a victim of a real gun crime.”
Rocky and Relli are members of a New York hip-hop group called A$AP Mob and remained friends after Rocky gained global fame in 2012 and 2013 with one album no album.
However, by the time the two met again on November 6th, 2021, their friendship had deteriorated. The pair brawled when they met outside a hotel in Hollywood. After a while, Rocky fired a shot. Leli said he grazes his knuckles.
During trial, Leri testified that he believed the gun was real and stated that Rocky was pointing at him before he left. After Leri told the ju umpire he cried out to Rocky as he chased him, Rocky pulled the gun again and held it in the air.
“He turned around and it was like a boom!” Leri said. “It was all like a movie. He was pointy and took the first shot,” he said he felt the bullet burn in his hand, grazing it. Ta.
Another member of the hip hop group, A$AP Twelvyy, fires a shot as a warning that he was present for a encounter, Rocky fires a shot as a warning to prevent Leri from attacking another member of the crew. He testified that he did.
Twelvyy testified that Rocky fired a blank from the prop gun and that everyone involved knew it was a fake.
Neither side produced guns as evidence, and despite more than three years had passed, the defense did not say the guns were fake until the start of the trial.
Ju-search was also shown video surveillance of the argument and heard it Testimony from a witness The person claimed to hear the shooting from the seventh floor of a nearby apartment building.
Although the ju-degrees were not expected to recognize the possibility of a 24-year ruling that Rocky faced, Rocky tour manager Lou Levin said that during his testimony the length of the possible sentences I mentioned it. The judge told the ju judge to ignore the statement, but the prosecutor said they believed the slip was intentional.
The Associated Press contributed
