The trial for star rapper A$AP Rocky, accused of firing a gun at a former friend in a November 2021 incident, began in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom on Friday.
The trial comes a year after A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm. On Tuesday, A$AP Rocky, 36, rejected a plea deal from prosecutors, who had recommended a seven-year suspended sentence, three years of probation, and 180 days in jail in exchange for a guilty plea.
If convicted, the rapper could face up to 24 years in prison.
This trial marks the culmination of a three-year legal battle stemming from an alleged altercation between A$AP Rocky and Terell Ephron.
Ephron, who claims to be a childhood friend of A$AP Rocky, has accused the rapper of pulling a gun on him during a confrontation in Hollywood on November 6, 2021. He further alleges that A$AP Rocky fired shots that grazed his knuckles during a subsequent confrontation.
A$AP Rocky has consistently maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings.
His attorney, Joe Tacopina, stated in court on Tuesday that the defense intends to call witnesses to testify that the firearm seen in a security video is a “starter pistol” that A$AP Rocky carried as a prop for security purposes. This strategy had not been presented during pre-trial hearings.
The defense also plans to portray Ephron as a money seeker, highlighting that he has sued A$AP Rocky in civil court, seeking financial damages for the incident.
“He’s the witness that this case will rise and fall on, for sure,” Tacopina said after a recent pre-trial hearing. “Whether he’s a star is something that remains to be seen.
“There’s jealousy obviously and he’s made that clear. He became a hater,” Tacopina said. “This is in large part about money, money, money.”
Ahead of the three-week trial, both the defense and prosecution questioned over 100 potential jurors. Jurors were asked whether they harbored negative feelings toward hip-hop, guns, or even people from New York. They were also asked whether the celebrity status of A$AP Rocky and his longtime partner, Rihanna, would influence their judgment.
