A$AP Rocky’s Lawyers Cast Man He’s Accused of Shooting as Jealous, Money-Seeking Rival
Opening Statements in Trial
On the first day of A$AP Rocky’s trial, jurors saw surveillance videos that a prosecutor argued make it clear the rapper fired a gun in 2021 at his former friend, who the defense cast as jealous, money-seeking rival who fabricated large parts of the story.
Prosecution’s Case
Deputy District Attorney Paul Przelomiec gave a sober, straightforward presentation during opening statements Friday in the trial of the hip-hop star, fashion maven and actor. It relied almost entirely on the video evidence and audio from a 911 call.
“What will become almost instantly clear is that this is not a complicated case,” Przelomiec said.
Defense’s Case
Rocky’s attorney Joe Tacopina said in the defense opening statement that the video evidence is meaningless without the testimony of the accuser — Terell Ephron, who goes by A$AP Relli. Tacopina argued Relli is driven by “jealousy, lies and greed.”
“This case rises or falls on his credibility,” Tacopina said, repeatedly calling Relli, “a perjurer and a criminal,” spurring prosecution objections. “The videos you saw, without his testimony, prove absolutely nothing.”
The Defense’s Theory
The defense said that the gun was a starter pistol that shot only blanks — which they argued Relli knew — and Rocky carried only as a prop for protection.
Surveillance Footage
The first video shown by the prosecution, captured from nearby but partly blocked, showed a physical struggle between two men — with two others intervening — outside a parking garage in Hollywood on the night of Nov. 6, 2021. One of them, wearing a black hoodie, pulls out a gun and points it, but does not fire it.
More Evidence
Przelomiec showed two more videos of the moment from other cameras, minutes after the first confrontation, when he said shots were fired about a block away. One shows a scuffle between four men in a tiny image in the corner of the frame. The other, shot at the same time, captures two gunshot sounds.
The 911 Call
He also played a 911 call from minutes later.
Testimony
The four men were all old friends, Przelomiec told the jurors. They had all been members of the A$AP Collective, a crew of creators established at a high school in New York around 2006.
Conclusion
Rocky has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, charges that could lead to up to 24 years in prison.
FAQs
Q: What are the charges against A$AP Rocky?
A: He is accused of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
Q: What is the defense’s theory of the case?
A: The defense argues that the gun was a starter pistol that shot only blanks, and Rocky carried it only as a prop for protection.
Q: What is the prosecution’s case?
A: The prosecution relies on video evidence and audio from a 911 call, arguing that Rocky fired a gun at his former friend.
