A$AP Rocky has entered a not-guilty plea on felony charges of him firing a weapon at former friend and affiliate A$AP Relli.
On Monday, January 8, the New York native (legal name Rakim Mayers) appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom to be arraigned for his two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm. Rocky’s charges were filed back in August 2022 after he reportedly got into an altercation with associate A$AP Relli, born Terell Ephron, in West Hollywood back in November 2021. Ephron alleged that Rocky pulled out a gun and fired shots at him, which grazed Ephron’s hand.
Ephron’s legal team, Jamal Tooson, and Brian Hurwitz, cite “multiple death threats and irreparable harm to his career in the entertainment industry as a result of this incident.” Rocky’s lawyer Joe Tacopina said: “We have a lot of evidence that we have a strong suspicion the prosecutors don’t know about.” Adding outside of the courtroom following the hearing: “He’s not guilty. No he will not entertain a plea deal.” The rapper did not make any statement himself during the hearing.
According to courtroom reporter Meghann Cuniff, A$AP Rocky’s legal team is firm in its hopes for an acquittal. Attorney Tacopina said: “No one likes to have to go through this, but he will. And he’ll come out stronger. And we’ll come out on top of this because he’s not guilty, and the evidence will reveal that. There’s no reason to discuss the possibility of conviction. Facts will take us in a certain direction, and we’ll deal with whatever comes our way.”
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