A$AP Rocky Fired Blank Shots from Prop Gun to Defend Friend, Lawyer Claims | Entertainment & Arts News

January 25, 2025 TruthUSA

A$AP Rocky discharged blank rounds from a prop gun as a means to defend a friend, according to his lawyer on the initial day of his trial.

The U.S. rapper faces accusations of aiming a gun at Terell Ephron, a former childhood companion who testified that their friendship deteriorated, culminating in a conflict on the night of November 6, 2021.

Jurors viewed surveillance footage which a prosecutor claimed clearly showed Rocky aiming a gun at Ephron outside a Hollywood parking garage.

However, Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, stated during the defense’s opening argument that the video evidence lacks significance without Ephron’s testimony, which he contended is driven by “jealousy, lies and greed”. He remarked: “This case rises or falls on his credibility.”

Tacopina asserted that the firearm was merely a “starter pistol” that discharged only blanks, which Rocky carried for protection, a fact he contended Ephron was aware of.

The first video presented by the prosecution depicted a physical altercation among several individuals, during which one man, dressed in a black hoodie, brandished a gun but refrained from firing.

“The evidence in this case will indicate that the man in the black sweatshirt is the defendant, Rakim Mayers,” stated Deputy District Attorney Paul Przelomiec, referring to Rocky’s legal name. “That evidence will be uncontested.”

Rocky has pleaded not guilty to two felony charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.

‘He never believed he was going to be shot’

Mr. Przelomiec informed the jurors that all four men in the video were former members of the A$AP Collective and had longstanding friendships.

Ephron is expected to testify that he anticipated a confrontation with Rocky but hoped they would resolve their differences, as stated by the prosecutor.

According to Mr. Przelomiec, the dynamic changed when Rocky brandished a gun, yet Ephron continued to pursue him as he walked away, noting: “In his state of mind, he never believed he was going to be shot.”

The defense attorney contended that Ephron was not fearful because he “knew that gun wasn’t real”.

Scraped knuckles

Mr. Przelomiec displayed a photograph of bloody scrapes on Ephron’s knuckles, which he claimed might have resulted from the incident, but were not relevant to the charges.

Mr. Tacopina argued that Ephron had taken on the role of aggressor and that Rocky fired blank shots from his prop gun to protect a member of their A$AP crew who was present, which explained the scrapes on Ephron’s knuckles.

Additionally, he mentioned that seven officers who searched the location found no shell casings or weapons.

Rapper turned down prosecution plea offer

This trial follows Rocky’s decision to decline a final plea offer from the prosecution, which suggested he plead guilty to one of the two felony counts in exchange for a 180-day prison sentence.

Consequently, he is facing a potential maximum prison term of 24 years if convicted by the jury.

The trial is anticipated to last approximately three weeks.

Rocky, a Grammy-nominated artist, is in a relationship with Rihanna, and the couple share two young sons. The singer of “Umbrella” was not present in court.

Rocky has been named one of the celebrity chairpersons for this year’s Met Gala in May and has a significant role in an upcoming Spike Lee-directed film featuring Denzel Washington.

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