A$AP Rocky is said to have shot A$AP Relli twice in 2021 – now he has to testify in court.
A$AP Rocky was charged with two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm and one count of personal use of a firearm in connection with the November 2021 shooting in Hollywood. Now the rapper was summoned to court and pleaded not guilty at the hearing.
A$AP Rocky’s team has “a lot of evidence” ready
On Monday (January 8), A$AP Rocky appeared in court without making a statement. Although he was present, the rapper let his defense attorneys Joe Tacopina and Sarah Cohen speak for him. They pleaded that the 35-year-old was “not guilty” and that he was not accused of shooting his former friend A$AP Relli. According to reports from The Guardian, Tacopina later told reporters that he and his client had not yet discussed the possibility of a conviction.
“We have a lot of evidence that we strongly suspect the prosecution is unaware of.”
What exactly happened?
On November 6, 2021, an altercation between A$AP Rocky and A$AP Relli reportedly occurred near a hotel in Hollywood. According to authorities, the argument escalated and resulted in Rocky pointing a semi-automatic firearm at Relli. Later there were two shots, Relli was slightly injured and had to be treated medically. According to police reports, Rocky then fled the scene on foot with two other men.
Video footage of the altercation later emerged where officers were able to identify both A$AP Rocky and A$AP Relli. In the clip, USA Today reports, two gunshots can be heard and then a man can be seen running away and turning a corner. The man’s identity is still officially unclear, but a Los Angeles Police Department official told authorities that investigators determined the person was Rocky. However, the man’s face cannot be seen in the video.
Due to the incident, A$AP Rocky was temporarily arrested in April 2022, but was released on bail. In August 2022, the “Fashion Killa” rapper already pleaded not guilty to the charges. Now he has had to take a stand a second time after the court determined there was enough evidence to put the rapper on trial. A trial date has not yet been set. However, Rocky must appear in court for his next hearing on March 6, 2024.