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.
The alleged shooting caused minor injuries to Ephron.
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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.
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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.
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Ephron is also pursuing a separate civil case against Mayers, seeking at least $25,000 in damages.
The case alleges that Mayers 'pulled out a handgun and purposefully pointed it in the direction of [Mr Ephron] and fired multiple shots'.
A court has also put a restraining order in place, ordering Mayers to stay at least 100 yards away from Ephron at all times.
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Los Angeles district attorney George Gascon confirmed the charges against Mayers in a statement on his website.
He said: "Discharging a gun in a public place is a serious offense that could have ended with tragic consequences not only for the person targeted but also for innocent bystanders visiting Hollywood.
"My office conducted a thorough review of the evidence in this case and determined that the addition of a special firearm allegation was warranted."
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Ephron's lawyers said: "After arriving at the location, a conversation ensued whereby without provocation, warning, or any justification, A$AP Rocky produced the handgun and intentionally fired multiple shots at Mr Ephron."
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UNILAD has reached out to representatives of A$AP Rocky for comment.