The shooting trial against popular rapper A$AP Rocky began Friday with opening statements in Los Angeles.
The 36-year-old hip-hop rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, is accused of firing a gun at a former friend and bandmate during a heated exchange in 2021 in Hollywood.
Mayers has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. Prosecutors say he shot in the direction of fellow rapper Terell Ephron, who went by the name A$AP Relli.
In their opening statement, prosecutors painted Mayers as an aggressive attacker who set in motion a plan to shoot his childhood friend over an argument.
Prosecutor Paul Bradley Przelomiec told jurors that Mayers and other members of his A$AP rap collective were walking down the street when he pulled a semi-automatic pistol from his waistband and pointed it toward Ephron while saying, “I’m going to kill you.”
The two were supposed to have been meeting to settle their grievances from a dispute the night before. But things took a turn for the worse after the gun was drawn.
“If you brought a gun, then you should shoot,” Ephron told Mayers, according to Przelomiec, adding that moments later, Mayers fired his weapon grazing Ephron’s knuckles.
Ephron also told authorities shortly after the shooting that he believed one of the bullets grazed his left hand.
Mayers was dressed in a grey suit with his hair braided and kept a straight face, at times reclining back in his chair during the opening of the trial.
Defense attorneys laid out the story of a bitter friend envious of Mayers’ success in the entertainment industry in their opening statement.
“This case is about one man’s jealousy, which lies in green,” defense attorney Joe Tacopina said. “This case is all about money, a clear attempt at extortion. Period, end of story.”
Tacopina accused Ephron of assaulting Mayers twice on the night of the alleged shooting, fueled by anger and allegations that Mayers didn’t pay for the funeral of a fellow member in their rap group.
“He embarked on a dangerous course of action,” the defense lawyer said.
Jury selection in the trial began Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Mayers faces up to 24 years in prison if convicted.
Former L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón said in 2022 that the shooting could have ended in tragedy.
“Discharging a gun in a public place is a serious offense that could have ended with tragic consequences not only for the person targeted but also for innocent bystanders visiting Hollywood,” Gascón said in a statement.
Rocky, a Grammy-nominated artist, is the partner of singer Rihanna, with whom he shares two children.
In 2019, he was found guilty of assault in a Swedish court after he and two members of his entourage got into a street brawl.
Although he avoided a long jail sentence, his case attracted widespread attention from President Donald Trump, reality TV star Kim Kardashian and singer Rod Stewart, who all called on Swedish authorities to release him, claiming he had been treated unfairly.
While A$AP Rocky had early success with his rap albums in 2013 and 2015, he hasn’t released much music since. But he has managed to remain in the spotlight and will star alongside Denzel Washington in movie director Spike Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest” later this year.
