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A$AP Rocky<\/b><\/a> is currently on trial for two counts of felony assault<\/a> with a semiautomatic firearm. The famous rapper has been accused of firing a handgun<\/a> at former friend and collaborator A$AP Relli <\/strong>outside a Hollywood hotel back in 2021.<\/a> While Rocky has maintained his innocence, a judge decided on November 20, 2023 that there was enough evidence for the case to move forward. At a hearing on January 8, 2024, he pleaded not guilty to both counts in the case. His trial officially began on October 21, 2024.<\/p>\n Here is everything you need to know about Rocky\u2019s assault case.<\/p>\n On November 6, 2021, Rocky (real name Rakim Mayers<\/strong>) allegedly got into a \u201cheated discussion\u201d with Relli (real name Terell Ephron<\/strong>), a childhood friend, outside the W Hotel in West Hollywood, California. Rihanna<\/strong><\/a>\u2018s boyfriend\u00a0allegedly pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and fired it at Relli, before fleeing the scene.<\/p>\n \u201cHe grabbed me on my collar. He was shaking me. I tried to push him off, get his hands off,\u201d Relli recalled in the courtroom on November 20, 2023, per PEOPLE<\/em>. \u201cThat\u2019s when [Rocky] pulled a gun from his waistband. It was a standard clip and a semi-automatic black gun. He pointed it toward my stomach.\u201d Relli alleged that Rocky told him, \u201cI\u2019ll kill you right now,\u201d before he allegedly shot him from 16 feet away.<\/p>\n Relli claimed he suffered minor injures that he showed photos of in the courtroom on November 20. He said an hour after the shooting, he returned to the scene to retrieve two 9mm shell casings. Relli explained in court that he waited two days to call 911 to report the incident, which was reportedly caught on nearby surveillance cameras.<\/p>\n Over five months after the shooting, Rocky was arrested<\/a> at Los Angeles International Airport on April 20, 2022, but was released on $550,000 bail just hours later. At the time, Rocky was coming home from Barbados where he was on vacation with Rihanna, with whom he now shares two children<\/a>.<\/p>\n Rocky was officially charged with two counts of assault with a firearm on August 15, 2022. Two days later, the \u201cPraise the Lord\u201d rapper pled not guilty to the charges in a Los Angeles court. Relli reportedly filed a separate civil lawsuit against Rocky for assault, battery, and emotional distress, according to PEOPLE<\/em>. Relli is seeking $25,000 in damages and additional damages to cover his medical bills.<\/p>\n \u201cDefendant [Rocky] purposefully or with reckless disregard unlawfully brandished a firearm towards the plaintiff [Relli],\u201d the complaint from Relli\u2019s lawyer filed reportedly states. \u201cFurther, defendant purposefully or with reckless disregard caused a bullet projectile\/fragment to hit the plaintiff. In both instances, defendant\u2019s conduct was unlawful or otherwise extreme and outrageous.\u201d<\/p>\n Rocky faces up to nine years in prison if he\u2019s found guilty of the charges.<\/p>\n Rocky\u2019s trial was announced by Judge M.L. Villar<\/strong> during a preliminary hearing in L.A. on November 20, 2023. There were a day and a half of testimonies from Rocky and Relli\u2019s legal teams before the judge made his decision. Villar explained in court that the \u201ctotality of the video and testimony\u201d showed there\u2019s enough evidence for the case to move to trial, CBS News<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>reported.<\/p>\n On January 8, 2024, Rocky pleaded not guilty to gun charges, including two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. The trial began on October 21 of that year.<\/p>\n Rocky has professed his innocence through his legal team in the assault case.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not disappointed, not surprised, we expected to go to trial, we\u2019ve been planning for trial all along,\u201d Rocky\u2019s lawyer, Joe Tacopina<\/strong>, said outside the court on November 20, according to\u00a0ABC News<\/a>. \u201cRocky is going to be vindicated when all this is said and done, without question.\u201d<\/p>\n While speaking to reporters, Tacopina was also asked if Rocky will have Rihanna show up to his trial. \u201cHe would never subject his family, he wants to shield them, he\u2019s handling it like Rocky would handle something, he protects his family,\u201d Tacopina said.<\/p>\n After pleading not guilty in court on January 8, 2024, Rocky\u2019s lawyer gave a statement to the media. \u201cWe have a lot of evidence that we have a strong suspicion the prosecutors don\u2019t know about,\u201d Tacopina said outside the Los Angeles court.<\/p>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\nWhat Did A$AP Rocky Allegedly Do?<\/h2>\n
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What Is A$AP Rocky Being Charged With?<\/h2>\n
When Does A$AP Rocky\u2019s Trial Begin?<\/h2>\n
What Has A$AP Rocky Said About the Case?<\/h2>\n