Fri Jan 24 19:40:00 UTC 2025: ## A$AP Rocky’s Assault Trial Begins: Rapper Faces 24 Years
**Los Angeles, CA** – The trial of Grammy-nominated rapper A$AP Rocky (Rakim Mayers) began Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court. The 36-year-old musician is charged with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm stemming from a 2021 incident in Hollywood. He pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors allege Mayers fired a gun at fellow rapper A$AP Relli (Terell Ephron) during a heated argument, with Ephron claiming a bullet grazed his hand. If convicted, Mayers faces a maximum sentence of 24 years in prison. Former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón previously described the incident as a serious offense that could have had tragic consequences.
Jury selection concluded earlier this week. The trial is expected to draw significant attention, given Mayers’ high profile. He is the partner of singer Rihanna and the father of their two children. This is not Mayers’ first brush with the law; he was convicted of assault in Sweden in 2019, a case that garnered international attention.
While his musical output has slowed in recent years, Mayers remains a prominent figure in the entertainment industry and is slated to appear in Spike Lee’s upcoming film, “Highest 2 Lowest,” alongside Denzel Washington.
First Piper 