Emily Brown
A$AP Rocky has been released on bail after being arrested in connection with a November shooting in California.
The rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, was returning from a trip to Barbados with Rihanna, his girlfriend, when he was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday (20 April).
A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department booking report stated Mayers was booked into jail at 12:42pm local time. Mayers' lawyer, Alan Jackson, confirmed his client had been arrested.
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Law enforcement sources cited by NBC News claimed Rihanna was with Mayers when he was arrested and that a search warrant has been carried out at Mayers’ residence in Los Angeles.
Mayers had his bail set at $550,000, but less than three hours after being booked into jail records show he posted bond and was released.
The arrest comes after the shooting victim told police Mayers, who was walking with two other people, approached him with a handgun on the street and allegedly shot him three to four times at around 10:15pm local time near Vista Del Mar and Selma Avenue. In police reports taken after the incident, the victim said he believed one of the bullets grazed his left hand.
In a statement released on Wednesday, police said the incident occurred after an argument between two acquaintances escalated and 'resulted in the suspect firing a handgun at the victim'.
33-year-old Rakim Mayers, a Los Angeles resident, also known as music artist A$AP Rocky, has been arrested in connection to a shooting that occurred in the Hollywood area in November of 2021. pic.twitter.com/YeV9w2udDL
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) April 20, 2022
"The victim sustained a minor injury from the incident and later sought medical treatment. Following the shooting, the suspect and two additional males fled the area on foot," the statement continued.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed Mayers had been arrested for 'assault with a deadly weapon (firearm)' at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday after detectives 'worked diligently to investigate and corroborate the reporting information'.
In a post on Twitter, they continued: "The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office for filing consideration."
Rumours about a relationship between Mayers and Rihanna have been circulating for years, and in a GQ interview in May 2021 he described the pop star as 'the love of [his] life', 'my lady' and 'the One'.
The couple revealed they were expecting a baby together earlier this year, with Rihanna pictured showing off her growing bump.
Mayers has previously been arrested in Sweden after a fight broke out between two men and his own entourage. The rapper was convicted of assault and received a suspended prison sentence as well as an order to pay more than $1,000 in damages.
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