A$AP The assault trial of rapper Rocky commenced on Friday in Los Angeles, with allegations that he discharged a firearm at a former associate.
Rapper Rakim Mayers, known professionally as A$AP Rocky, could face a maximum sentence of 24 years in prison if found guilty of two felony assault charges stemming from an incident that occurred in 2021 near a Hollywood hotel.
During opening statements on Friday, prosecutors characterized the rapper as the instigator, alleging that he devised a scheme to shoot his childhood friend after a dispute.
The Grammy-nominated hip-hop star, a prominent figure in the fashion industry and the long-term partner of singer Rihanna has pleaded not guilty, firmly denying the allegations against him.
In a gripping testimony from last year, Terell Ephron, a fellow artist and childhood friend of the rapper, recounted a harrowing incident in Hollywood.
He described how bullets narrowly missed his knuckles when the rapper discharged a firearm in his direction, a mere block away from the renowned Hollywood Walk of Fame. He stated that he opted to pursue medical treatment at a hospital following his return to New York.
On November 6, 2021, a shooting occurred in Hollywood following a “heated discussion” between a rapper and Terell Ephron. Both individuals are affiliated with the A$AP Mob hip-hop collective and share a long-standing acquaintance dating back to their high school days in New York.
This week, a jury of seven women and five men was assembled over three days, paving the way for the commencement of opening arguments on Friday.
Mr Mayers, dressed in a grey suit, appeared at the trial on Friday alongside several family members. However, singer Rihanna, with whom he shares two children, was conspicuously missing from the proceedings. The possibility of her attendance at the trial remains uncertain, as the rapper’s attorney informed the court this week that Mr. Mayers has tried to distance his family from the situation.
On Friday, Deputy District Attorney Paul Przelomiec commenced the trial by delivering a comprehensive presentation of video evidence, characterizing the case against the rapper as clear-cut. “He informed the jury that it would soon be evident that this case is not complicated.”
Mr. Mayers convened with two friends and Mr. Ephron to discuss a disagreement the previous evening. However, the meeting escalated into violence.
A partially obscured video captured a confrontation involving two men while two additional individuals intervened in the escalating situation. A man, identified as Mr. Mayers, was observed brandishing a firearm, though he did not discharge it. Later footage from that night reveals two gunshots fired amid a confrontation involving the same individuals.
Mr. Ephron allegedly advised Mr. Mayers, “If you brought a gun, then you should shoot,” as reported by Przelomiec. Shortly thereafter, Mr Mayers faces allegations of discharging a firearm, reportedly causing a graze to Ephron’s knuckle.
“He was in a state of mind where he never believed he would be shot,” Przelomiec stated during the court proceedings.
Prosecutors presented to the jury text messages exchanged shortly after the incident, in which Mr. Ephron alleges that the rap star attempted to take his life.
“You attempt to take my life,” he penned.
Mr. Mayers asked, “What are you talking about?”
A rapper has turned down a plea deal before the upcoming trial, asserting that the firearm he allegedly discharged was merely a “prop gun” that could not fire live rounds. The Associated Press reported that this would have entailed a 180-day prison sentence.
On Friday, defence attorney Joe Tacopina stated that the firearm in question was a starter pistol utilised as a prop. He noted that the rapper’s security team had recommended carrying it as a precaution against possible threats. The rapper reported that he had been a victim of crimes previously.
Mr. Tacopina characterised the situation as a contentious dispute between former friends, intricately tied to financial matters.
“This case revolves around the jealousy of one man, which is rooted in greed,” he stated to the jury. This case centers on financial motives, presenting a clear allegation of extortion. That concludes the discussion.
The police investigation and the injuries sustained by Mr Ephron have emerged as a central issue in the case. The legal team representing the rapper has concentrated their efforts, particularly on Friday, on highlighting Mr Ephron’s delay in reporting the incident to law enforcement and the subsequent lack of evidence found by authorities regarding a shooting.
In the aftermath of the 2021 shooting, responding authorities conducted a thorough examination of the scene but reported no discovery of bullet shell casings. However, Mr. Ephron later revisited the location and claimed to have collected two shell casings that he asserted were found in the vicinity. He presented them during his report of the incident two days later.
The defence asserted that the trial’s result is contingent upon Mr. Ephron’s testimony, emphasising, “He is the witness on whom this case will rise and fall.”
The trial is anticipated to span approximately three weeks, during which Mr. Ephron is expected to testify as a pivotal witness.The trial is unfolding at a pivotal juncture in A$AP Rocky’s career.
In May, he will co-chair the 2025 Met Gala, joining prominent figures such as Anna Wintour, British race car driver Lewis Hamilton, singer Pharrell Williams, and basketball superstar LeBron James.
Later this summer, he is scheduled to star in a film directed by Spike Lee titled “Highest 2 Lowest” alongside the esteemed actor Denzel Washington.A two-year suspended sentence was previously handed to the star for his involvement in a brawl that took place in Stockholm in August 2019.
A rapper and two associates have been found guilty of assaulting a 19-year-old man following a dispute. The court dismissed Their claim of self-defence, which found insufficient grounds to support their argument.
The case garnered international media coverage following US President Donald Trump’s unsuccessful efforts to secure Mr. Mayers’s release from prison while he awaited trial.
Hailing from New York, Mr. Mayers emerged as one of the most prominent breakout stars of the 2010s, achieving remarkable success with eight platinum singles in the United States. His notable tracks include “Wild For The Night,” “Everyday,” “LSD,” and “A$AP Forever.”
He gained prominence following Drake’s support and has collaborated with notable artists such as Alicia Keys, Lana Del Rey, Skepta, Selena Gomez, and Kendrick Lamar.
