A$AP Rocky to face trial on charges of firing a gun at A$AP Relli

Rapper, A$AP Rocky, will go on trial in Los Angeles on allegations that he shot a pistol during a dispute with a former childhood friend.

A$AP Rocky, real name Rakim Mayers, was present for the second day of the preliminary hearing on Monday when the decision was made.

According to prosecution, Mr. Mayers, 35, shot and pointed a firearm at Terell Ephron two years ago, slightly hurting him.

Mr. Mayers has entered a not guilty plea. He is the father of two children with famous singer Rihanna.

Mr. Mayers, a two-time US number-one album producer and Grammy nominee, is accused of two felonies of assault with a firearm. If proven guilty, he may go to prison for up to nine years.

Mr. Ephron, a member of the hip-hop group A$AP Mob, has known him since their high school days in New York. He had filed a complaint alleging, among other things, that he has been the victim of assault and violence, carelessness, and emotional distress.

On November 6, 2021, in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Mr. Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli, claims that Mr. Mayers “lured” him to a secret spot outside the W Hotel to talk about a quarrel.

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An LA cop testified earlier this month that Mr. Mayers was seen brandishing and discharging a gun in the CCTV footage of the alleged attack that was shown in court.

The attorneys for Mr Mayers disputed that the person seen in the video was their client.

Judge ML Villar of the Superior Court simply needed to determine if there was enough evidence to pursue the case, not if a crime had been committed. For these kinds of preliminary hearings, the burden of proof is substantially lower.

In a separate lawsuit, Mr. Ephron asserts that Mr. Mayers “pulled out a handgun and purposely pointed it in the direction of [Mr. Ephron] and fired multiple shots” following a verbal confrontation.

According to the court papers, Mr Ephron was “struck by bullet projectile/fragments” in his left hand and required medical attention. He is seeking at least $25,000 (£20,000) in damages.

At a court hearing in August 2022, the judge ordered Mr Mayers to stay 100 yards (300ft) away from Mr Ephron at all times.

Mr Mayers was previously given a two-year suspended sentence for his role in a brawl in Stockholm, Sweden, in August 2019.

He is being represented in the Los Angeles case by lawyer Joe Tacopina, who is also representing former President Donald Trump in his New York civil fraud trial.