A$AP Rocky’s assault trial begins in Los Angeles

The trial of A$AP Rocky began on Friday in Los Angeles, where the rapper faces charges of criminal assault after allegedly shooting at an old friend. Rakim Mayers, known professionally as A$AP Rocky, could face up to 24 years in prison if found guilty of two counts of assault stemming from an incident in November 2021 near a Hollywood hotel.

In their opening statements, prosecutors painted the rapper as the aggressor, claiming he had orchestrated a plan to shoot his childhood friend after a heated disagreement. The Grammy-nominated hip-hop star, who is also a fashion mogul and the long-time partner of singer Rihanna, pleaded not guilty and denied the allegations.

The victim, Terell Ephron, an artist and childhood friend, testified last year that bullets grazed his joints when the rapper opened fire in his direction just a block away from the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. He later sought medical treatment at a New York hospital after flying there.

Authorities say the shooting occurred on November 6, 2021, following an “animated discussion” between Mayers and Ephron, who both belong to the A$AP Mob collective and have known each other since high school in New York. A jury of seven women and five men was selected earlier this week before opening statements began on Friday.

Mayers, attending the trial in a gray suit, was joined by some family members, although Rihanna, with whom he has two children, was notably absent. It is unclear if she will appear in court, but the rapper’s attorney mentioned this week that Mayers has made efforts to keep his family away from the public scrutiny of the trial.

Deputy Prosecutor Paul Przelomiec opened the trial by presenting video evidence, calling the case against the rapper straightforward. “What will become clear almost immediately is that this is not a complicated case”, he told the jury.

Mayers, accompanied by two friends and Ephron, had met to discuss the disagreement from the night before. However, the meeting turned violent. The first video, partially obscured, shows a confrontation between two men, with two others intervening. One man, identified as Mayers, is seen pulling out a weapon but not firing. Additional footage taken later that night shows two gunshots during a fight involving the same group.