ASAP Rocky pleads not guilty to two counts of assault with a firearm in LA court
By Mike Bedigan, PA Los Angeles Correspondent
ASAP Rocky has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault with a firearm, following an incident in Los Angeles last November.
The US rapper, real name Rakim Mayers, who recently welcomed his first child with Rihanna, appeared in person in an LA court on Wednesday to enter the pleas.
He was dressed in a dark suit, glasses and wore a black face mask and spoke only to confirm his name and acknowledge his rights.
During the incident, Mayers, 33, is alleged to have pointed a semi-automatic handgun at the victim, identified as fellow rapper ASAP Relli, before allegedly firing it in his direction in a subsequent confrontation.
Relli, real name Terell Ephron, is a former friend of Mayers, but filed a lawsuit against him last week.
In legal documents obtained by the PA news agency, lawyers for Relli said Mayer’s conduct had been “extreme and outrageous” and had caused their client to suffer “extreme emotional distress”.
“Defendant (Mayers) purposefully or with reckless disregard unlawfully brandished a firearm towards the plaintiff (Ephron),” the documents stated.
“Further, defendant purposefully or with reckless disregard caused a bullet projectile/fragment to hit the plaintiff.
“In both instances, defendant’s conduct was unlawful or otherwise extreme and outrageous.”
The filing added: “Defendant violated Penal Code Section 245 when he unlawfully aimed a loaded firearm and pointed it in the direction of the plaintiff.
“This action was a substantial factor in causing the plaintiff to suffer physiological, mental, and emotional harm.”
Ephron has requested damages of $25,000 dollars (€24,000) over the incident, plus additional damages to cover his medical bills.
Judge Victoria B Wilson handed Mayers a restraining order, which states he must stay 100 yards away from Ephron at all times and set a preliminary trial date of November 2nd.
Mayers’ bail has been set at $550,000 which he has paid.
