A$AP Rocky is under trial for assault with a semi-automatic weapon: all the details
22 october 2024 в 01:13
A$AP Rocky is currently facing trial on two charges of serious violence using a semi-automatic firearm. The famous rapper has been accused of shooting a former friend and collaborator A$AP Relli outside a hotel in Hollywood in 2021. While Rocky maintains his innocence, on November 20, 2023, a judge ruled that there was enough evidence to proceed with the case. At a hearing on January 8, 2024, he pleaded not guilty to both charges in this case. His trial officially began on October 21, 2024.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Rocky assault case.
On November 6, 2021, Rocky (real name Rakim Myers) allegedly got into a «heated discussion» with Relli (real name Terell Efron), a childhood friend, outside the W Hotel in West Hollywood, California. According to Rihanna’s boyfriend, he allegedly pulled out a semi-automatic pistol and shot Relli before fleeing the scene.
«He grabbed me by the collar. He was shaking me. I tried to push him away, get his hands off me», - Relli recalled in court on November 20, 2023, according to PEOPLE. «That's when [Rocky] pulled the gun out of the holster. It was a standard magazine and a black semi-automatic pistol. He pointed it at my stomach». Relli claimed that Rocky told him, «I'll kill you right now», - before allegedly shooting him from a distance of 16 feet.
Relli claimed to have received minor injuries, which he showed in photos in court on November 20. He said that an hour after the shooting, he returned to the scene to retrieve two 9 mm casings. Relli explained in court that he waited two days before calling 911 to report the incident, which was reportedly captured on nearby surveillance cameras.
More than five months after the shooting, Rocky was arrested at Los Angeles Airport on April 20, 2022, but was released on bail of $ 550,000 just a few hours later. At the time, Rocky was returning home from Barbados, where he was vacationing with Rihanna, with whom he now has two children.
Rocky was officially charged with two counts of assault with a firearm on August 15, 2022. Two days later, the rapper «Praise the Lord» pleaded not guilty to the charges in a Los Angeles court. According to PEOPLE, Relli filed a separate civil lawsuit against Rocky for assault, battery, and emotional distress. Relli is seeking $ 25,000 in compensation and additional payments to cover his medical bills.
«The defendant [Rocky] intentionally or recklessly unlawfully displayed a firearm towards the plaintiff [Relli]», - the complaint from Relli’s lawyer states, according to reports. «Additionally, the defendant intentionally or recklessly caused a bullet/fragment to strike the plaintiff. In both instances, the defendant’s conduct was unlawful or otherwise extremely outrageous».
Rocky could face up to nine years in prison if found guilty of the charges.
Rocky’s trial was announced by Judge M.L. Villar during a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles on November 20, 2023. After a day and a half of testimony from the legal teams of Rocky and Relli, the judge made his decision. Villar explained in court that the «consistency of the videos and testimonies» shows that there is enough evidence to proceed to trial, CBS News reports.
On January 8, 2024, Rocky pleaded not guilty to charges involving firearms, including two charges of serious violence using a semi-automatic firearm. The trial began on October 21 of the same year.
Rocky declared his innocence through his legal team in the assault case.
«We are not disappointed, not surprised, we expected to go to trial, we have always been preparing for trial», - said Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, outside the court on November 20, according to ABC News. «Rocky will be acquitted when all this is over, without a doubt».
When asked by journalists, Tacopina was also asked if Rihanna would attend Rocky’s trial. «He will never expose his family, he
Here’s everything you need to know about the Rocky assault case.
On November 6, 2021, Rocky (real name Rakim Myers) allegedly got into a «heated discussion» with Relli (real name Terell Efron), a childhood friend, outside the W Hotel in West Hollywood, California. According to Rihanna’s boyfriend, he allegedly pulled out a semi-automatic pistol and shot Relli before fleeing the scene.
«He grabbed me by the collar. He was shaking me. I tried to push him away, get his hands off me», - Relli recalled in court on November 20, 2023, according to PEOPLE. «That's when [Rocky] pulled the gun out of the holster. It was a standard magazine and a black semi-automatic pistol. He pointed it at my stomach». Relli claimed that Rocky told him, «I'll kill you right now», - before allegedly shooting him from a distance of 16 feet.
Relli claimed to have received minor injuries, which he showed in photos in court on November 20. He said that an hour after the shooting, he returned to the scene to retrieve two 9 mm casings. Relli explained in court that he waited two days before calling 911 to report the incident, which was reportedly captured on nearby surveillance cameras.
More than five months after the shooting, Rocky was arrested at Los Angeles Airport on April 20, 2022, but was released on bail of $ 550,000 just a few hours later. At the time, Rocky was returning home from Barbados, where he was vacationing with Rihanna, with whom he now has two children.
Rocky was officially charged with two counts of assault with a firearm on August 15, 2022. Two days later, the rapper «Praise the Lord» pleaded not guilty to the charges in a Los Angeles court. According to PEOPLE, Relli filed a separate civil lawsuit against Rocky for assault, battery, and emotional distress. Relli is seeking $ 25,000 in compensation and additional payments to cover his medical bills.
«The defendant [Rocky] intentionally or recklessly unlawfully displayed a firearm towards the plaintiff [Relli]», - the complaint from Relli’s lawyer states, according to reports. «Additionally, the defendant intentionally or recklessly caused a bullet/fragment to strike the plaintiff. In both instances, the defendant’s conduct was unlawful or otherwise extremely outrageous».
Rocky could face up to nine years in prison if found guilty of the charges.
Rocky’s trial was announced by Judge M.L. Villar during a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles on November 20, 2023. After a day and a half of testimony from the legal teams of Rocky and Relli, the judge made his decision. Villar explained in court that the «consistency of the videos and testimonies» shows that there is enough evidence to proceed to trial, CBS News reports.
On January 8, 2024, Rocky pleaded not guilty to charges involving firearms, including two charges of serious violence using a semi-automatic firearm. The trial began on October 21 of the same year.
Rocky declared his innocence through his legal team in the assault case.
«We are not disappointed, not surprised, we expected to go to trial, we have always been preparing for trial», - said Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, outside the court on November 20, according to ABC News. «Rocky will be acquitted when all this is over, without a doubt».
When asked by journalists, Tacopina was also asked if Rihanna would attend Rocky’s trial. «He will never expose his family, he
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