A$AP Rocky to stand trial for shooting former friend with gun

A$AP Rocky must stand trial for allegedly shooting his former friend Terell “A$AP Relli” Ephron in 2021, a Los Angeles judge ruled yesterday (Nov. 21), the Associated Press reports. The judge said there was enough evidence for Rocky to face the two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm. Rocky has pleaded not guilty to both charges. He faces up to 24 years in prison, prosecutors said.

The judge emphasized that even if there is enough evidence for a trial, preliminary hearings have much lower standards of proof, the AP reports. Rocky’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, said in court: “We’re not disappointed or surprised, we expected to go to trial, we’ve been planning the trial all along.” Rocky will be vindicated when all this is said and done, no doubt.

During the preliminary hearing, the prosecution and defense analyzed footage from the scene of an alleged shooting, in which prosecutors say they identified Rocky. Using body camera footage, Tacopina established that police found no evidence of the shooting after searching a sidewalk and street about 20 minutes after the apparent sound of gunshots. Surveillance footage captured images of a hooded figure carrying what appears to be a gun, but detectives said the weapon was not found.

A$AP Relli also sued A$AP Rocky, both for the alleged shooting and for defaming him in the press.