Rapper A$AP Rocky has been charged with assault in connection with the shooting of a former buddy in Hollywood in November 2021.
According to a press statement from Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón’s office, the rapper, whose actual name is Rakim Mayers, faces two counts of assault with a semiautomatic handgun and allegations of personally utilizing a firearm.
Mayers, 33, is expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
“Disposing of a firearm in a public location is a serious violation that might have resulted in disastrous repercussions not only for the individual targeted but also for innocent bystanders visiting Hollywood,” Gascón’s office stated in a statement.
“After a careful assessment of the evidence, in this case, my office concluded that the inclusion of a special firearm allegation was appropriate,” the announcement added.
After an altercation in Hollywood, the shooting took place on November 6, 2021.
A$AP Rocky allegedly pulled a revolver and shot twice at his former friend, who was only slightly injured. The rapper and two other persons then departed the scene.
He was detained at the Los Angeles International Airport earlier this year after returning from a holiday in Barbados with singer Rihanna. The two celebrities have a kid together.
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The incident was revealed in April when the actor was detained at Los Angeles International Airport on his way back from a vacation with Rihanna. Three hours later, he was freed after making bail of $550,000 (£421,000).
Several guns were discovered at Mr. Mayers’ residence while serving a search warrant following his arrest.
Terell Ephron, a member of the hip-hop collective A$AP Rocky Mob, identified himself as the victim and filed a lawsuit against his former buddy last week, citing assault and abuse, negligence, and mental distress.
Mr. Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli, said that Mr. Mayers “lured” him to an unnamed Hollywood location to address a disagreement.
According to the lawsuit, Mr. Mayers “took out a firearm and purposely aimed it in the direction of [Mr. Ephron] and fired numerous bullets” following a verbal disagreement.
According to the court documents, Mr. Ephron was “hit by bullet projectile/fragments” in his left hand and required medical care. He is suing for at least $25,000 (£20,750).
The Los Angeles Police Department is still investigating the situation.
Mayers and two of his bodyguards were arrested, accused, and convicted of assault in Sweden in July 2019. On June 30, the rapper and his security crew reportedly punched, kicked, and sliced a guy called Mustafa Jafari on the streets of Stockholm, causing many lacerations and a shattered rib.
During the trial, Mayers and his crew claimed they were acting in self-defense, but the court disagreed and sentenced them to conditional terms, which meant they might escape jail time and return to the country as long as they did not commit a similar offense.
Prosecutors claim he later fired the pistol twice at the victim, who received minor injuries.
If proven guilty, the 33-year-old, who has had two number-one albums in the United States, could face up to nine years in prison.
Mr. Mayers had previously received a two-year suspended sentence for his role in an August 2019 brawl in Stockholm.
He was one of the greatest breakout performers of the 2010s as A$AP Rocky, garnering eight platinum songs in the United States, including Wild For The Night, Every Day, LSD, and A$AP Forever.
He gained prominence when Drake championed him, and he has collaborated with musicians such as Alicia Keys, Lana Del Rey, Skepta, Selena Gomez, and Kendrick Lamar.
He acknowledged his connection with Rihanna last year, calling her the “love of my life” and “the one.”
