Rapper A$AP Rocky to stand trial over allegedly shooting at 'mob mate' A$AP Relli
The rapper must stand trial over allegations that he fired a handgun during a feud with a childhood friend
Kit Roberts
Rapper A$AP Rocky is set to stand trial over allegations that he fired a handgun during a feud with a former childhood friend.
A Los Angeles judge ruled that A$AP Rocky, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers, must stand trial following the second day of a preliminary hearing on Monday.
Prosecutors have alleged that two years ago Mayers pointed and fired a handgun at Terell Ephron, a former childhood friend.
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The alleged shooting caused minor injuries to Ephron.
Now Mayers is facing two felony counts of assault with a firearm, which carries a sentence of up to nine years in jail.
Ephron was a part of the hip-hop collective A$AP Mob, and the pair have known each other since they went to high school together in New York.
Ephron, who is also known as A$AP Relli, is alleging separately that he was the subject of emotional distress, negligence, and assault and battery.
The rapper is claiming that Mayers 'lured' him to a remote location outside of the W Hotel in Los Angeles on 6 November 2021.
The meeting was arranged ostensibly to discuss a disagreement.
CCTV footage of the alleged attack shows Mayers brandishing and shooting a firearm, according to the testimony of an LA detective.
Mayers has denied the allegations, and his legal representatives are arguing that it is not him shown in the CCTV footage.
Ephron is also pursuing a separate civil case against Mayers, seeking at least $25,000 in damages.
The case alleges that Mayers 'pulled out a handgun and purposefully pointed it in the direction of [Mr Ephron] and fired multiple shots'.
A court has also put a restraining order in place, ordering Mayers to stay at least 100 yards away from Ephron at all times.
Los Angeles district attorney George Gascon confirmed the charges against Mayers in a statement on his website.
He said: "Discharging a gun in a public place is a serious offense that could have ended with tragic consequences not only for the person targeted but also for innocent bystanders visiting Hollywood.
"My office conducted a thorough review of the evidence in this case and determined that the addition of a special firearm allegation was warranted."
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Ephron's lawyers said: "After arriving at the location, a conversation ensued whereby without provocation, warning, or any justification, A$AP Rocky produced the handgun and intentionally fired multiple shots at Mr Ephron."
UNILAD has reached out to representatives of A$AP Rocky for comment.