LOS ANGELES — During the closing arguments of A$AP Rocky’s trial, a prosecutor emphasized the importance of a single question for the jury: “Was it a real gun or was it a fake gun?” Deputy District Attorney Paul Przelomiec made this statement, marking a pivotal moment in the prosecution’s case against the hip-hop artist, who is accused of firing at a former friend in Hollywood in 2021.
The trial saw both sides provide their interpretations of the incident. Przelomiec maintained that A$AP Rocky was guilty of two felony assault counts involving a semiautomatic firearm, insisting that the evidence pointed clearly to his culpability. In contrast, the defense lawyer asserted that the weapon used was merely a prop gun, one that only fires blanks, which Rocky had retrieved from the set of his music video for “DMB,” featuring Rihanna.
Rocky’s legal representative, Joe Tacopina, harshly criticized the key prosecution witness, branding him as an “angry pathological liar” who had repeatedly lied under oath. The Grammy-nominated artist, whose actual name is Rakim Athelaston Mayers, faced these serious allegations while his longtime partner, superstar Rihanna, watched from the audience, bringing along their two young sons for support.
During the trial, the couple’s children made a notable appearance, breaking up the seriousness of the courtroom atmosphere briefly. The two toddlers, aged 2 and 1, looked adorable in suits as Rihanna attempted to keep them entertained while listening to the proceedings.
The trial is set to progress with the defense concluding its arguments on Friday, followed by a rebuttal from the prosecution. The jury is expected to begin deliberations afterward. If found guilty, Rocky could face a maximum sentence of 24 years. Although jurors are typically not made privy to potential sentencing, references during testimony, including a remark from Rocky’s tour manager, suggested the serious implications of the case.
The prosecutor argued that the shooting incident was premeditated. Rocky had been friends with the individual he allegedly shot, known as A$AP Relli, since their high school days in New York as part of the A$AP Mob. However, their relationship took a turn for the worse by November 2021, leading to a confrontation outside a Hollywood hotel.
During this altercation, Relli claimed that Rocky discharged his weapon, grazing his knuckles. However, Tacopina disputed the claim by stating that the injuries described were merely “knuckle scrapes,” arguing that no bullet could have caused that kind of minor injury, and illustrated this point with photographs of Relli’s hand.
Eyewitness testimony from a friend of Rocky’s suggested he fired the shots as a deterrent against Relli attacking another associate. This confrontation was captured on a blurry security footage, leaving the interpretation of events somewhat ambiguous.
The prosecution depicted Rocky moving towards Relli to gain a clearer shot, but the defense refuted this notion, asserting that the claim did not hold logical weight. The defense witnesses claimed that Rocky was simply using a blank-firing prop gun, a point bolstered by their consistent testimonies, a stark contrast to the accused’s alleged contradictory statements.
No gun was presented as evidence by either side during the trial. The prosecutor expressed concern over the lack of material proof for a prop gun, while the defense highlighted the comparable absence of evidence for a real firearm.
Relli has also initiated a lawsuit against Rocky, and the defense characterized him as someone driven by jealousy and greed. Recorded conversations revealed Relli’s intentions to financially exploit Rocky, an assertion he later dismissed as falsified.
Overall, the trial encapsulated a complex narrative concerning friendship, betrayal, and the dichotomy between reality and perception, with both sides preparing their final phrases before the jury steps into deliberation. As the courtroom drama unfolds, the anticipation for a verdict continues to grow.
