LOS ANGELES — On Wednesday, nearly a hundred jurors are set to return to a courtroom in Los Angeles, where they may be seated for a three-week trial involving A$AP Rocky, who faces charges for allegedly shooting at a former friend.
Prosecutors from Los Angeles will primarily lead the questioning of potential jurors, who were queried by the defense team for the prominent rapper, actor, and fashion influencer about their views on hip-hop culture, firearms, or even individuals hailing from New York.
Defense attorney Joe Tacopina, who shares a New York background with his client, addressed the jury pool by asking, “Am I going to face any issues because of this accent I try to downplay?” No jurors admitted to having negative sentiments towards him or the rapper.
Tacopina further noted, “I love LA,” as part of his introduction to the jury.
Among the initial jury group, almost half acknowledged they were familiar with A$AP Rocky prior to jury selection, and nearly all had knowledge of his partner, Rihanna, who is the mother of their two children.
Jurors unanimously affirmed that the couple’s celebrity status would not influence their judgment, whether positively or negatively.
The process of jury selection proceeded after the 36-year-old rapper declined a plea deal that would have entailed serving 180 days in jail, a seven-year suspended sentence, and three years of probation in exchange for a guilty plea to one of the two felony assault charges tied to the use of a semiautomatic firearm.
A total of 106 jurors were called in, with some dismissed due to personal hardships. One individual was excused for being so firmly anti-gun that he felt he could not remain impartial. Once a panel of 12 jurors and alternates is finalized, opening statements may commence as soon as Wednesday afternoon.
At the conclusion of Tuesday’s proceedings, lawyers for Rocky requested a hearing to examine the demographics of the jury pool, highlighting that the area from which jurors were selected has a demographic of 9% African-American, while they perceived that less than 5% in the courtroom were Black.
“There’s a distinctive group missing,” argued Chad Seigel, an attorney representing Rocky, citing potential violations of the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of a fair trial and relevant California laws.
However, Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold dismissed this request, stating, “There is no legal requirement for any specific racial percentage on a jury.”
In addition to the trial, Rocky has recently been announced as one of the celebrity chairs for the upcoming Met Gala in May and is involved in a Spike Lee-directed project alongside Denzel Washington, set to premiere shortly thereafter.
Yet, the ramifications of a potential conviction could significantly alter Rocky’s life, stemming from an incident involving Terell Ephron, a childhood acquaintance. Ephron has recounted how their relationship deteriorated, culminating in a confrontation on November 6, 2021, during which he claimed that bullets grazed his knuckles.
In a notable development during the court proceedings, Tacopina indicated that the defense intends to bring forth witnesses to assert that the firearm captured on security footage is a starter pistol that Rocky utilized as a prop for security purposes.
