The trial of A$AP Rocky, regarding accusations of shooting a former friend, has commenced.

The rapper, at 36 years old and whose real name is Rakim Mayers, is claimed to have discharged a firearm twice towards Terell Ephron (previously known as A$AP Relli), following a dispute in Hollywood, California, back in November 2021.

This past January, the father of two and partner to Rihanna pleaded not guilty to gun-related charges, which include two felony counts of assault using a semiautomatic firearm, as reported by Rolling Stone and The Guardian.

In November, after a preliminary hearing that featured witness accounts and surveillance footage, a judge in Los Angeles determined there was sufficient evidence to proceed with the trial against the creative director for Puma.

This situation undoubtedly adds pressure to his relationship with the Bajan billionaire, as they have two sons together, RZA, aged 2, and Riot Rose, aged 1. The future ramifications of this trial on his career remain uncertain, particularly since the rapper and co-chair of the 2025 Met Gala is set to unveil his fourth album, “Don’t Be Dumb,” this autumn.

If found guilty on all counts, he could face a maximum prison sentence of 24 years. This case comes in the wake of his arrest in Sweden for assault in 2019, for which he was convicted and served over a month behind bars.

Here’s what we know.

ASAP Rocky footage: What allegations does the rapper face?

Authorities allege that a discussion escalated, leading Rocky to “fire a handgun” at Ephron, as stated in a tweet from LAPD in April 2022.

Ephron required medical treatment, but his injuries were reported as minor, according to law enforcement. After the incident, police revealed that Rocky and two other individuals fled the scene on foot.

During a preliminary hearing in November, videos presented in court depicted several men, two of whom were identified as Rocky and Ephron, engaging in a heated verbal confrontation, according to reports from The Associated Press.

A video exhibited by prosecutors during the November preliminary hearing captured what seemed like two gunshots, followed by a man sprinting around a corner before starting to walk. While the man’s identity was initially unclear, a detective with the LAPD confirmed that the individual was identified as Rocky.

The footage depicted a man whose face was not visible, dressed in a hooded sweatshirt, and appearing to possess a firearm, as reported by AP. An image from the video shows the man with his face obscured and the weapon not visible. The detective stated that investigators confirmed the individual as the well-known rapper based on the footage.

What charges is A$AP Rocky facing?

Rocky is confronted with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm in his ongoing criminal proceedings. Additionally, he is dealing with a separate civil case brought by Ephron.

Relli? Childhood friendship with ASAP Rocky ended prior to alleged altercation

Ephron, who was previously known as A$AP Relli, testified at a hearing in November, stating that he and Rocky grew up together and were part of the same artist circle in their New York high school, as reported by AP. They were both members of A$AP Mob, a hip-hop group that included popular rapper A$AP Ferg and the late A$AP Yams.

However, their friendship deteriorated, leading to a confrontation in Hollywood on November 6, 2021, where Ephron alleged that Rocky drew a gun on him.

Additionally, there was another incident where Rocky reportedly fired shots that narrowly missed Ephron’s hands, according to AP. The police were unable to find the gun, a 9 mm pistol, when they executed a search warrant at Rocky’s location.

ASAP Rocky arrested in connection with assault

In April 2022, the “Fashion Killa” rapper was arrested at the Los Angeles International Airport concerning the shooting, as confirmed by the Los Angeles Police Department at the time. Rocky was returning from a vacation in Barbados with Rihanna when he was apprehended at LAX and charged with “assault with a deadly weapon.”

The rapper known for “Praise the Lord” was later released after posting a bail of $550,000, as confirmed by LAPD to YSL News. A judge from the Los Angeles Superior Court, Victoria B. Wilson, imposed a restraining order against Rocky, prohibiting him from contacting Ephron.

In August 2022, Rocky entered a plea of not guilty to the accusations. He was required to repeat his not guilty plea in January after a November ruling indicated there was adequate evidence to proceed with a trial against him.