Reno Fiapoto’s Murder Trial Ends in Mistrial After Rapper’s Profanity-Laced Outburst
On September 23, a 27-year-old Bay Area rapper named Reno Fiapoto—better known by his stage name TearItOffGreezy—shouted expletives during a murder trial, triggering a mistrial that will force the case to restart. The outburst, which included accusations that jurors were rushing to convict him “just so they can go on their motherf—ing trip,” became the final catalyst for Judge Glenn Kim to declare a mistrial. The decision left prosecutors and defense attorneys in a legal limbo, with the case now set to resume at an unspecified date.
The case, which dates back to 2016, centers on Fiapoto’s alleged role in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Derrick McDougal outside a Richmond gas station. Prosecutors claim he was part of a gang ambush, while his defense argues the evidence is flawed.
The Outburst That Broke the Jury
During a September 23 court hearing, Fiapoto locked eyes with a female juror and launched into a profanity-laced rant, accusing the court of bias. “This s— nowhere near fair and impartial,” he said, according to a transcript. “Life without parole. Never going home. F— you talking about?” The juror, who had a pre-scheduled vacation, had already been flagged by defense attorney Tim Ahearn as a potential source of bias. Ahearn later told the court that the jury had been leaning toward guilt, citing conversations with a dismissed juror.
Judge Kim, citing the juror’s impending trip and the risk of a rushed verdict, declared a mistrial the following day. “Mr. Fiapoto deserves a fair trial, okay,” Kim said. The judge acknowledged that he would have removed the juror if alternatives were available, but the panel had already been reduced to 12 members after two others were dismissed due to medical issues.
Fiapoto Faces Life Without Parole If Trial Restarts
The mistrial has placed Fiapoto in a precarious position. If prosecutors succeed in overturning his defense’s motion to dismiss the case under the state’s Racial Justice Act, the trial could restart as early as November or December. For Fiapoto, the consequences are dire: a conviction would mean life without parole for a crime he has consistently denied committing.
Prosecutors’ Argument: A Thoughtful Juror, Not a Biased One
Prosecutors, including Deputy District Attorney Adam Wilks, argued that the juror in question was capable of impartiality. “She struck me as a very thoughtful person,” said Wilks’ boss, Satish Jallepalli, in court. Jallepalli contended that the juror would have raised concerns about her ability to serve if she felt prejudiced, suggesting she was being “genuine” in her claims of fairness.
But defense attorney Ahearn countered that the juror’s pre-existing vacation plans created an implicit conflict. “The jury might feel compelled to find him guilty so that they could be done,” he said.
Prosecutors Scrutinize Lyrics While Fiapoto Posts on Instagram
After the mistrial, Fiapoto posted a photo on Instagram with the caption, “Holding ❤️🩹 on it’s getting a lil better🩸 taking it day by day 🦅 #mistrial #FREEGREEZ💙 #freetheinnocent🔓”.
The case has also drawn attention to the role of music in criminal defense. Fiapoto’s lyrics, which include references to violence, have been scrutinized by prosecutors. However, his defense argues that the song’s mention of “30 times” does not align with the crime scene, where McDougal was shot multiple times but not 30.
Will the Racial Justice Act Motion Succeed?
As the case moves forward, several questions remain. Will the Racial Justice Act motion succeed? How will the renewed trial address the juror’s potential bias?
For now, the legal battle continues, with the next court date pending.
