A$AP Rocky and Rihanna have promised to name their next child after the rapper’s LAWYER – after being found not guilty in shooting case

A$AP Rocky and Rihanna have reportedly promised to name their next child after the rapper’s lawyer after he was acquitted in his recent court case. 

The three-time Grammy nominee, 36, was found not guilty of shooting a former friend during an altercation in Hollywood in 2021 on Tuesday.

He was charged with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm against his former friend, Terell Ephron, known as A$AP Relli.

And in a show of gratitude to attorney Joe Tacopina after being cleared, A$AP – who already shares sons RZA, two, and 18-month-old Riot with the singer – vowed to bestow his next baby with his moniker.

Speaking of the honour, Joe told Extra: ‘They grabbed me and they said, “Listen, our next baby A$AP Joe.” I said, “I’m gonna hold you to that!”‘ 

The lawyer went on to say that A$AP, real name Rakin Mayers, said some ‘very nice things’ to him following the verdict, noting he told him he ‘loved’ him and that they were ‘family’. 

A$AP Rocky and Rihanna have reportedly promised to name their next child after the rapper’s lawyer after he was acquitted in his recent court case [pictured together outside court]

In a show of gratitude to attorney Joe Tacopina [pictured]after being cleared, A$AP vowed to bestow his next baby with his moniker

Ahead of the not guilty verdict, Joe also recalled the ‘special’ moment he shared with the star, who was ‘facing a decade-long prison sentence’ and didn’t know if he’d be be able to go home to his babies.

Jo explained: ‘He grabbed me and he said, “Joe, I want you to know, I know how hard you fought here. I know everything you’ve done, and I just appreciate you so much.” 

‘It’s obviously a very serious moment for him, and he has the wherewithal and the thought to think, “Let me thank this guy.” It was special that he did that.’

Rihanna erupted in tears as the not guilty verdicts were read out on Tuesday. A$AP Rocky, who faced up to 24 years in prison if convicted, ran over and dived into her arms after being spared from a lengthy jail sentence.

Once close, A$AP Rocky and A$AP Relli were members of the A$AP Mob crew while at high school in New York, but the relationship broke down after Rocky became famous. 

‘Thanks y’all for saving my life,’ a jubilant A$AP Rocky told the jury, composed of seven women and five men, as he left the courtroom. He was later seen enjoying a celebratory dinner with Rihanna in Beverly Hills.

During the three-week trial, Relli testified that Rocky, real name Rakim Athelston Mayers, fired two shots from a handgun, grazing his knuckles.

The rapper’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, argued he was actually carrying a prop gun incapable of firing real bullets – and branded Relli an angry pathological liar’ who ‘committed perjury again and again and again and again’ during the trial.

The three-time Grammy nominee, 36, [pictured leaving court with Rihanna] was found not guilty of shooting a former friend during an altercation in Hollywood in 2021 on Tuesday

Speaking of the honour, Joe told Extra : ‘They grabbed me and they said, “Listen, our next baby A$AP Joe.” I said, “I’m gonna hold you to that!”‘

The lawyer went on to say that Asap, real name Rakin Mayers, said some ‘very nice things’ to him following the verdict, noting he told him he ‘loved’ him and that they were ‘family’

A beaming A$AP Rocky leaves court after fighting through the mob of fans outside the court

It was not immediately clear whether the verdict was reached because the jury believed he was carrying a prop gun, or that he acted in self-defence. 

Jurors began their deliberations on Tuesday after three weeks of testimony and arguments. It took them about three hours to reach a unanimous decision. 

They had been instructed by Judge Mark S Arnold they could find Rocky not guilty if they deemed he was acting in self-defence. 

Rihanna took to Instagram Stories Tuesday evening with an uplifting message after the verdict was read out.

‘THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD AND GOD ALONE!’ the We Found Love artist said. ‘THANKFUL, HUMBLED BY HIS MERCY!’

The musical artist was emotional as he embraced his lawyers after the verdict was read.

Before going into the trial, Harlem-born Rocky had declined an offer from prosecutors of a six-month jail sentence and probation. 

Under that offer, the rapper would have had to plead guilty to one count in the case, the AP reported. 

During the trail, prosecutors in the case said A$AP Rocky shot twice at his former pal A$AP Relli.

Relli testified in the LA courtroom that he was unharmed in the shooting, aside from a bullet grazing his knuckle.

Rihanna was emotional after the verdict was read in the felony assault trial

A$AP Rocky celebrated the verdict with his legal team in the courtroom, hugging his lawyer Joe Tacopina in this shot

But he was slammed by Rocky’s defence attorney Mr Tacopina in closing arguments, who branded him ‘an angry pathological liar’ who ‘committed perjury again and again and again and again’ during the trial. 

Arguing Relli had fabricated his account, the defence attorney told the court: ‘This case is about one man’s jealousy, lies and greed, and that man is not Rocky. That man is Terell Ephron.

A$AP Rocky’s legal team said that the shots the rapper fired were actually blanks from a prop gun he obtained from the set of a music video he was working on, the AP reported.

The jury was instructed by the court that under the law, A$AP Rocky could not be found guilty, if they found him to be defending himself in the incident.