A$AP Rocky was found not guilty on both counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm this week – even though jurors apparently didn’t believe his defense that the gun was fake.
The jury comprised of seven women and five men – none of whom were Black – took just over three hours to deliberate on Tuesday (February 18). After the verdict was handed down, YouTuber Nique at Nite spoke with one of the women, who said that while they believed the gun was real, they just felt there was not enough evidence to find him guilty of felony assault.
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“We were all thinking a crime had been committed, but the thing is with the instructions we had, and with the law, we didn’t think there was enough evidence to convict,” she said.
The rapper claimed it was a prop gun he used to fire a warning shot at A$AP Relli in their November 2021 scuffle, and in closing arguments, prosecutor Paul Przelomiec reminded jurors that the case boils down to whether Rocky’s gun was real or fake.
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However, the judge also reminded jurors that self defense is a valid defense if it’s determined that Rocky “reasonably believed he was in imminent danger of suffering bodily injury […] or of being touched unlawfully.”
“I think most of us felt it was real,” the juror added. “Unfortunately a lot of the witnesses, we didn’t consider all of their testimony to be reliable. The feeling was there was a gun. Unfortunately, they didn’t have enough evidence to convict on the charges that were handed down to us.”
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She also noted the defense’s story that the prop gun had just disappeared since the incident was “a little mysterious” and that “some of the testimony did not sound accurate or truthful.” But ultimately, “We just tried to stick to what was presented and stick to the instructions that we were given, and that’s how we reached our verdict.”
Another juror told Rolling Stone their decision “was fundamentally about reasonable doubt.” They added: “We spent a lot of time discussing the concept of reasonable doubt, and the chain of evidence that was provided to us, setting aside personalities.”
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Speaking to the media outside the courthouse after the verdict was delivered, Rocky said: “Thank God first. You gotta thank God first. And I really wanna thank to jury for making the right decision.
“I’m just so thankful. This is crazy right now. This whole experience has been crazy for the past four years but I’m thankful nonetheless. We blessed to be here right now, to be a free man talking to y’all. All praise be to God.”
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Shortly afterwards, the Harlem rapper posted on X: “DON’T BE DUMB,” which is the name of his long-awaited upcoming album.
Rihanna also took to social media to celebrate her boyfriend being found not guilty, writing: “The glory belongs to God and God alone! Thankful, humbled by his mercy.”
50 Cent, who had been a frequent commentator throughout the trial, also offered his take on the verdict while once again slamming Relli.
He wrote on Instagram: “Not guilty I told [ninja emoji] I would bet 500,000 K he gonna beat it when A$AP Telli started getting tired of telling 5 days straight. BOOM. Now stay sucker free.”
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Kanye West simply posted a black and white photo of Rocky sitting in court along with a prayer hands emoji.
Rocky’s close friend and collaborator Tyler, The Creator welcomed the verdict by posting a picture on his Instagram Stories of Pretty Flacko hugging his lawyer, Joe Tacopina.
