ASAP Rocky Should Get '5-Minute Acquittal' in Gun Assault Case, Lawyer Says

It sounds like ASAP Rocky’s lawyer is expecting a swiftly delivered verdict in his star client’s assault with a semiautomatic firearm case.

Speaking with TMZ on Monday, as seen in the video above, Joe Tacopina, who’s representing Rocky in the Los Angeles case, was asked to detail how he’s feeling now that the case is in jurors’ hands. While he cautioned that one can never truly “know what a jury is thinking,” Tacopina is confident that things will go Rocky’s way, and quickly.

“I feel great,” Tacopina said Monday. “I mean, look, this case went perfectly for us. I’ve believed in Rocky’s innocence from day one. Rocky has maintained it. By virtue of the fact that he’s turned down a plea that would have been … like six months and he’s facing obviously a lot more than that, I think shows you his resolve and his belief in his innocence and belief in the jurors. This case, it should be a five-minute acquittal.”

All told, Tacopina believes jurors are in tune with what he described as “the magnitude of the moment.” He also pushed back against prosecutors’ remarks about Rihanna’s presence in the courtroom.

“She’s been there almost every day,” he said. “She obviously loves him. They are a great couple. Obviously, I’ve known Rocky for a long time. I’ve known Rih for a long time. And seeing them together in a time like this, in a time of need, is something really special. She’s really there supporting him in full force. They’re a family, so why would that be odd or unique?”

Elaborating further, Tacopina argued that prosecutors are “obsessed with Rihanna,” despite him not mentioning her in the proceedings.

“We have factual defenses,” Tacopina said. “They seem to be obsessed with Rihanna and her being there.”

Circling back to his expectations of a quickly delivered verdict, Tacopina underscored the power reasonable doubt can have, estimating there are “about 100” examples of it in this case alone. Tacopina also mentioned having recently been in contact with Gucci over a Rocky-starring campaign for the Italian fashion house’s Gucci Guilty fragrance. According to Tacopina, he “asked them to hold the campaign,” at one point saying, “Can you change it to Gucci Not Guilty?”

See more from Tacopina above.

Rocky was initially arrested in April 2022, with LAPD reps saying at the time that the arrest stemmed from a shooting incident that took place in the Hollywood area in November 2021. Though not named in an LAPD news release announcing Rocky’s arrest, the alleged victim was soon revealed as ASAP Relli. According to police, a gun was fired following “an argument between two acquaintances,” with the two individuals alleged to be Rocky and Relli.

The ensuing trial wasn’t without a few heated moments, including one involving Tacopina and Relli during cross-examination in January. More recently, Tacopina and Deputy District Attorney John Lewin got into a particularly tense argument in court, ultimately prompting a firm “knock it off!” from the judge.

As for a verdict in Rocky’s case, one could come as soon as Tuesday.