A$AP Rocky to Stand Trial for Allegedly Shooting at Childhood Friend

Rapper A$AP Rocky is set to go to trial for allegedly assaulting a former childhood friend with a firearm in 2021, according to a ruling by a Los Angeles judge. The decision was made during a preliminary hearing, which was attended by A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers. Prosecutors claim that Mayers, 35, pointed and fired a handgun at Terell Ephron, resulting in minor injuries. Mayers, who has pleaded not guilty, could face up to nine years in prison if found guilty. The Grammy nominated rapper is facing two felony counts of assault with a firearm. Ephron, who was a member of the A$AP Mob hip-hop collective and has known Mayers since their time at a New York high school, has also filed a lawsuit separately, alleging assault and battery, negligence, and emotional distress. Ephron claims that Mayers lured him to an undisclosed location to discuss a dispute. CCTV footage played in court showed Mayers brandishing and firing a gun, according to an LA detective's testimony. However, Mayers' lawyers deny that their client is the person seen in the video holding and firing the gun. The judge's role was to determine if there was enough evidence for the case to proceed, not whether a crime was committed. Additionally, Ephron is seeking at least $25,000 in damages for the injuries he sustained. In a previous court hearing in August 2022, Mayers was ordered to stay 100 yards away from Ephron at all times. Prior to this case, Mayers received a suspended sentence for his involvement in a brawl in Stockholm, Sweden, in August 2019. He is currently being represented by lawyer Joe Tacopina, who is also involved in former President Donald Trump's civil fraud trial in New York. A$AP Rocky achieved success as a breakout star in the 2010s, earning multiple platinum singles in the US and collaborating with various artists in the music industry.