He may be preparing for the arrival of his second child, but A$AP Rocky's legal troubles are intensifying. In August 2022, Rocky pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault. It was related to a shooting involving A$AP Relli, real name Terrell Ephron. According to reports, Rocky is accused of firing shots in Relli's direction during an altercation in Hollywood, Calif., in November 2021. In addition to the criminal case, Relli also filed a civil lawsuit against his former friend.
More recently, The Daily Mail has offered an update on the criminal case. There was reportedly yet another hearing today (March 14) in Downtown Los Angeles. Rocky has been out on $550K bail and wasn't present in court, but he was ordered to return. Judge Kerry White wants Rocky back in court on June 5 for a hearing to determine if the case goes to trial.
A$AP Rocky Allegedly First Pointed Firearm At Relli
According to reports, Rocky first pointed a gun at Relli. Later, during an argument, he's accused of letting off a few shots, and one reportedly grazed his target. Relli walked away with a minor injury, but he's taking Rocky to court. "Discharging a gun in a public place is a serious offense that could have ended with tragic consequences," said Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón. "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. [We] determined that the addition of a special firearm allegation was warranted."
However, in September of last year, Rocky's legal team filed documents denying he was responsible for any shooting. “Answering defendant generally denies each and every allegation of the complaint. And specifically denies that plaintiff has been damaged in any amount or in any way as a result of any act or omission of answering defendant,” a filing obtained by Complex reads. It further alleged Relli's injuries were caused by someone else. Additionally, it says that Relli “failed to exercise reasonable care to avoid the consequences of harm.”
An Attorney's Reaction
The rapper's attorney, Joe Tacopina, also denied the allegations. “Rocky didn’t commit a crime,” Tacopina said. He described it as an extortion attempt by a former associate. Tacopina also claimed Relli "threatened to make false criminal accusations if Rocky didn’t pay him. What will become abundantly clear in the upcoming months, based on facts and evidence, is that Rocky is innocent of these charges.”
