LOS ANGELES (AP) — The trial of rapper A$AP Rocky is centered on a crucial question: Did he fire real bullets or blanks at a former friend? Prosecutors will assert on Thursday that the hip-hop star shot two rounds from a handgun, while the defense will argue that he discharged blanks from a non-lethal firearm. Jurors are expected to begin deliberations on two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm related to the 2021 incident. If convicted on both counts, Rocky could face up to 24 years behind bars.
Rocky, a Grammy-nominated music artist, fashion icon, and actor, is in a long-term relationship with pop sensation Rihanna, with whom he shares two young sons. Rihanna may make an appearance during closing arguments, having sporadically attended the trial, including a recent outing where they left the courthouse together arm-in-arm.
Testimony concluded on Tuesday without Rocky taking the stand. The prosecution’s case heavily relies on the credibility of the alleged victim, A$AP Relli (legal name Terell Ephron), who was once Rocky’s close friend from their New York high school days. A dispute between the two culminated in the shooting on November 6, 2021, outside a Hollywood hotel. Conflicting accounts of the incident suggest Rocky acted in self-defense to protect another crew member.
The defense posits that the shots fired were blanks from a starter pistol used for security, a claim contested by the prosecution. Video evidence and text messages will be scrutinized, with both sides presenting contrasting narratives. Relli, who filed a civil suit in connection with the case, is portrayed by the defense as motivated by financial gain and jealousy, while the prosecution argues he seeks justice for a genuine offense. The absence of physical evidence and discrepancies in testimonies further complicate the case.
As the trial nears its conclusion, the legal teams are set for intense arguments, with tensions already running high in court. The jury’s decision will determine the fate of A$AP Rocky and the outcome of this high-profile case.
During the trial, Deputy District Attorney John Lewin vehemently dismissed the defense’s prop gun argument as nothing more than “garbage.”
