ASAP Rocky has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. He entered his plea at a hearing in Los Angeles on Monday. A judge previously ruled in November that there was enough evidence against Rocky to warrant a trial in the shooting of his former friend and colleague, ASAP Relli. Relli accused Rocky of opening fire on him in Hollywood on November 6, 2022, while claiming that one of the bullets grazed his hand.
Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, labeled the assault allegation a “false scenario” as well as “a plain and blatant classic attempt at extortion,” in a statement to Rolling Stone. Tacopina added of Relli: “He’s a failed associate — ex-associate — of Rocky’s, and he’s jealous. He was trying to get money from Rocky. He wanted Rocky to support him, he made it clear. There were repeated attempts where he tried to ask for money in lieu of not causing problems for Rocky. That’s what he said. We have all this memorialized in text messages and otherwise, so it’s an extortion.”
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ASAP Rocky Leaves Preliminary Hearing In Assault Case
Rakim Mayers, aka A$AP Rocky, departs the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center after a preliminary hearing in his assault with a semiautomatic firearm case in Los Angeles, California, on 20 November 2023. The charges stem from a November 2021 incident where Rocky allegedly pointed a semi-automatic handgun at Terell Ephron and fired multiple times. (Photo by ALLISON DINNER / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON DINNER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
At a preliminary hearing, Relli recounted the shooting taking place outside of a hotel. While there is a security footage video from the incident, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge M.L. Villar noted that the “actual shooting” isn’t visible in the clip.
ASAP Rocky Pleads Not Guilty
That was quick – A$AP Rocky entered a standard not guilty plea this morning at the criminal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles.
He’s charged with two counts of first-degree assault with a firearm. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for March 6. pic.twitter.com/AN6SFoI7rJ
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) January 8, 2024
In addition to the criminal charges, Relli is also suing Rocky for alleged assault, battery, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. He filed the complaint in August 2022. Be on the lookout for further updates on ASAP Rocky on HotNewHipHop.
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