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A$AP Rocky, Rihanna’s Husband, Faces First Trial for Attempted Murder

If convicted, the rapper could face up to 24 years in prison

Archivado en: A$AP Rocky  •  

Rakim Mayers, better known as A$AP Rocky, appeared in court on Tuesday, January 21, for the first hearing on two felony charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. The charges are linked to an alleged incident involving his former A$AP Mob member, Terell Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli.

The incident reportedly took place on November 6, 2021, in Hollywood. After an argument near a hotel, A$AP Rocky is accused of firing three to four shots at Relli, causing injuries to his hand knuckles. According to Relli, he filed a police report two days after the incident. If convicted, A$AP Rocky could face up to 24 years in prison. The rapper has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In a rare decision for Los Angeles courts, cameras will be allowed in the courtroom for most of the trial. “The public deserves to see what happens in the courtroom,” the judge stated.

According to USA Today, police have not found any shell casings at the scene or recovered the weapon involved in the incident. There is a video showing a man in a hoodie holding what appears to be a gun, but his face is not clearly visible. Another image shows the man’s face, but in this one, he is not holding a weapon.

The two artists met years ago during their high school days in New York. Both were part of the collective A$AP Mob, which inspired the first part of their stage names. “We had dreams, more or less,” Ephron said, looking back on their former friendship. But over time, tensions grew, eventually leading to the breakdown and ultimate end of their relationship.

Rihanna, A$AP Rocky’s Partner

It’s still unclear if Rihanna, A$AP Rocky’s partner and the mother of his children, will attend the trial to support him. “It’s been something that’s waiting over Rocky’s head and Rihanna and their family’s heads for a while. We’re anxious to get this thing underway and get this behind him,” Tacopina (defendant’s lawyer) said.

While her attendance is being treated as a ‘family decision,’ the lawyer noted that Rocky is “very protective of Rihanna and doesn’t want her anywhere near this proceeding. But that’s a family decision they’ll make.”

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky
Cindy Ord/Getty Images.

Future Plans: Met Gala 2025, New Album, and Leading Roles in Film

Despite the recent controversy, the rapper’s career shows no signs of slowing down. He’s set to co-chair the 2025 Met Gala, which will take place on May 5. He’s also been busy working on his fourth studio album, Don’t Be Dumb, which is highly anticipated by his fans.

But that’s not all—he’s stepping into the spotlight as the star of Highest 2 Lowest, a film directed by Spike Lee, where he’ll share the screen with Denzel Washington. He’ll also appear in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, which is set to hit theaters soon, with a release date of January 24.