The assault trial of rapper A$AP Rocky, real name Rakim Mayers, began on Friday in Los Angeles.
The Grammy-nominated artist is accused of firing a gun at his childhood friend, Terell Ephron, during a 2021 altercation near a Hollywood hotel.
Mayers faces two felony assault charges and up to 24 years in prison if convicted. Prosecutors allege he orchestrated the shooting following a heated disagreement.
Ephron testified last year that bullets grazed his knuckles during the incident, which occurred just a block from the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Deputy District Attorney Paul Przelomiec presented video evidence, describing the case as “straightforward.”
The footage reportedly shows Mayers drawing a gun during a confrontation and later firing two shots.
However, defense attorney Joe Tacopina argued the weapon was a starter pistol used for self-defense, framing the case as a fallout fueled by jealousy and money.
Key testimony from Ephron, who delayed reporting the incident and collected shell casings himself, is expected to play a pivotal role in the trial.
The proceedings come at a critical time for Mayers, who is set to co-chair the 2025 Met