Rapper A$AP Rocky, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers, has been acquitted of charges related to firing a gun at a former friend during an altercation in Los Angeles.

A jury found him not guilty of two felony assault charges, which could have resulted in a 24-year prison sentence.

The charges stemmed from an incident on November 6, 2021, when Terell Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli, accused Mayers of shooting at him during an argument on a Hollywood street, grazing his knuckles with one of the bullets.

Mayers, who is also a fashion mogul and Rihanna's partner, denied the allegations, claiming the weapon was a prop gun and that Ephron was motivated by financial gain.

The verdict was met with cheers and applause in court, with Mayers quickly embracing his family, including Rihanna, who attended the trial with their young sons.

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Mayers thanked the jury and expressed relief, stating, “Thank God for saving my life.”

The altercation occurred after a disagreement between the two men the previous day. Prosecutors alleged that Mayers drew the gun, threatened to kill Ephron, and fired several shots.

 However, the defense argued the weapon was a non-lethal prop gun. The firearm was never recovered, and the prosecution's case relied partly on surveillance footage, but there was no direct evidence showing the shooting. Ephron took two days to report the incident and was unable to provide supporting evidence, including missing shell casings and surveillance footage.

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Mayers, who is preparing for the release of his first solo album in nearly a decade, is also scheduled to perform at the Rolling Loud festival in Los Angeles in March 2025 and stars in Spike Lee’s upcoming film Highest 2 Lowest.