Around GMA

Article Inside Page

Relieved and emotional cries filled the Los Angeles courtroom as the clerk read the not-guilty verdict in American rapper A$AP Rocky's felony assault trial.

The hip-hop artist had been facing two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm after being accused of shooting at his friend and bandmate, Terrell Ephron, following a heated argument in 2021.

A$AP Rocky's lawyers clarified that the firearm in question was merely a prop gun used by the artist in a music video. They also stated that Terrell was the aggressor in the confrontation.

After a three-week trial, the jury deliberated and returned a verdict that spared the artist from a prison sentence that could have exceeded 20 years.

“Thank y'all for saving my life,” A$AP Rocky said to the jurors.

Upon hearing the verdict, the 36-year-old rapper quickly embraced his partner, famous singer Rihanna, and other family members present in the courtroom.

A$AP Rocky expressed deep gratitude for the court's decision, telling NBC News and other reporters outside the court, "First of all, we want to thank God. We really want to thank the jury for making the right decision."

He continued, "We're blessed to be here right now, to be a free man talking to y'all."

A$AP Rocky's attorney, Chad Seigel, also expressed relief. "We're grateful to the jury," the lawyer said. "They saw through this mirage of a case."

Attorney Chad added that his client "turned down a plea for no jail time because he was innocent."

A$AP Rocky is part of the hip-hop collective ASAP Mob, from which he adopted his moniker. Some of his hit songs are "I Smoked Away My Brain (I'm God x Demons Mashup)," Tailor Swift," and "Fashion Killa."

Meanwhile, take a look back at celebrities who were sentenced to prison, here: