Jury Selection Begins in A$AP Rocky’s Trial Over Alleged 2021 Shooting of Former Friend A$AP Relli
The highly anticipated trial of rapper A$AP Rocky, real name Rakim Mayers, began on Tuesday, January 21, with jury selection underway in Los Angeles.
The 36-year-old artist faces two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm stemming from a 2021 incident in which he is accused of firing a gun at his former friend, Terell Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli.
Rocky has pleaded not guilty.
The trial, expected to last approximately 15 days, will involve 106 potential jurors. Defence attorney Joe Tacopina questioned jurors on topics such as their views on hip-hop, firearms, and people from New York. Tacopina asked, “When I get up here with this ridiculous accent, which I try not to have but I do, is anyone going to have a problem?” to which no jurors admitted any negative feelings. “I love LA,” Tacopina added humorously.
Nearly half of the initial jury pool said they had heard of A$AP Rocky, and most were familiar with his longtime partner, Rihanna. All jurors agreed they would not let the couple’s celebrity status influence their judgement.
Prosecutors previously offered Rocky a plea deal involving 180 days in jail, a seven-year suspended sentence, and three years of probation if he pleaded guilty to one of the charges. Rocky declined the offer.
The jury pool’s demographics were also questioned by the defence, who noted a discrepancy in the racial representation of the jurors compared to the area’s population.
The 2021 Incident
The charges relate to a November 6, 2021, altercation in Los Angeles. Prosecutors allege that Rocky fired a gun at Ephron during a dispute, grazing his knuckles. Ephron, who testified to their strained relationship, described the incident as the culmination of their feud.
Tacopina plans to call witnesses who will testify that the firearm seen in a security video is a starter pistol, which Rocky allegedly carried as a prop for security. Tacopina also pointed out a lack of physical evidence, including no fingerprints or shell casings, stating, “I think if there were things for them to find, they would have found them.”
Rocky’s relationship with Rihanna has drawn significant attention throughout the proceedings. During a pretrial hearing, Judge Mark Arnold questioned whether the pair were legally married. Tacopina referred to Rihanna as Rocky’s “common-law wife,” but the judge clarified that spousal privilege applies only to legally wed couples.
Despite speculation, Tacopina confirmed that Rocky is prepared to testify and present his side of the story. If convicted, the rapper could face up to 24 years in prison.
The trial comes at a pivotal moment for A$AP Rocky, who has been named one of the celebrity chairs of the Met Gala in May and is set to star in a Spike Lee-directed film alongside Denzel Washington later this year. However, these opportunities may be overshadowed by the legal challenges he faces.
As jury selection concludes and opening statements begin, all eyes remain on the courtroom to see how this high-stakes trial unfolds. With Rocky’s career and freedom hanging in the balance, the case has captured the attention of fans and legal observers alike.