Rapper ASAP Rocky has been charged for allegedly firing a gun at ASAP Mob member ASAP Relli–his former friend who said he planned to sue after coming forward as a victim in the alleged November 2021 shooting.
According to reports, Los Angeles County’s district attorney George Gascón announced that Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, has been charged with two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
“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.” Gascón said in a statement released on Aug. 15.
Back in April, Rocky was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon in connection to the alleged November 2021 shooting. Before his arrest, a then-unnamed victim claimed the “D.M.B” artist approached him on the street with a handgun and shot him three to four times, resulting in a bullet allegedly grazing his left hand. Months later, Relli, whose real name is Terrell Ephron, stepped forward as the victim and said he planned to file a civil lawsuit against Rocky.
In a statement released on Aug. 10, Relli’s lawyers, Jamal Tooson and Brian Hurwitz said the Harlem native convinced him to meet up at central Hollywood “to discuss a disagreement between the two of them.” Rocky then allegedly showed up with a semiautomatic handgun and “fired multiple shots.”
“After arriving at the location, a conversation ensued whereby without provocation, warning, or any justification, ASAP Rocky produced the handgun and intentionally fired multiple shots at Mr. Ephron,” Tooson and Hurwitz alleged. They added that their client received “multiple death threats and irreparable harm to his career in the entertainment industry as a result of this incident” and that he’s seeking at least $25,000 in damages.
Rocky was reportedly “blindsided” by police when they showed up at LAX to arrest him. At the time, he and his then-pregnant girlfriend, billionaire singer and entrepreneur Rihanna had just arrived back in the U.S. from their Barbados vacation. Later in April, officers discovered guns at the rapper’s L.A. home, as authorities searched his residence and left with multiple firearms. Detectives reportedly ran ballistic tests on the weapons to determine whether or not Rocky was the triggerman.
