In January, A$AP Rocky is scheduled to stand stand trial for allegedly firing a gun at his former friend.
On Monday (11.20,) during a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles court, Judge M.L. Villar ruled that there was sufficient evidence for the superstar rapper, born Rakim Mayers, to stand trial on two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
Following a heated discussion in Hollywood in November of 2021, the now 35-year-old musician is accused of firing a handgun two times at his former friend and A$AP Mob member, A$AP Relli,
In August of 2022, Rocky pleaded not guilty to the charges, and reacting to the judge’s decision outside the courthouse, ASAP’s attorney Joe Tacopina insisted his client will be “vindicated” during the trial that will begin on 8 January. In a statement to reporters after the ruling, he said “We’re not disappointed, not surprised, we expected to go to trial, we’ve been planning for trial all along,” he told reporters, according to NBC News. “Rocky is going to be vindicated when all this is said and done, without question.”
Claiming that Rocky lured him into an alley in Hollywood and “intentionally fired multiple shots” at him, with bullet fragments allegedly striking his hand, in 2022 A$AP Relli, (Terell Ephron,) filed a civil lawsuit against his former friend for alleged assault, battery, negligence, and emotional distress. And in September of this year, he also sued Rocky and Tacopina for defamation over comments the lawyer made about him in the press.
At the time, Tacopina told TMZ that the legal action was “nothing more than a publicity stunt.” “I more than welcome this lawsuit especially because the resolution of the criminal case has not happened yet. This opens up this extortionist to depositions under oath now before the resolution of the criminal case,” he added.
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Author: Al Denté
Photo: David Hwang