A$AP Rocky faces trial for 2021 Hollywood shooting, risks 24 years in prison

A$AP Rocky, charged with shooting a former companion in 2021, was tried Thursday by a jury of five men and seven women.

The 12 jurors and four alternates will take the oath of office on Friday, marking the start of the 36-year-old hip-hop singer A$AP Rocky Los Angeles trial.

Rocky rejected a 180-day jail sentence and now faces years in prison if the jury finds him guilty of two felony assaults using semiautomatic firearms. The defendant denies culpability, and his attorney confirms this.

Instead, he risked trial on two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, which could result in 24 years in jail.

Rakim Mayers, aka A$AP Rocky, and his attorney Joe Tacopina 

The two sides chose jurors in 2 1/2 days from over 100 candidates in a downtown LA courtroom. They selected a woman, a podcast editor and actor, and a man, who has worked at Trader Joe’s for more than 20 years. The final alternate is a retired judge.

Numerous jurors received exoneration, while others faced expulsion. Each party had the authority to excuse up to 10 jurors without providing a reason. The defense raised seven challenges, the prosecution two.

One individual questioned Thursday is a civilian with the Los Angeles Police Department and has several law enforcement contacts, including a cousin on the case’s witness list who will not be summoned.

Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, removed him from the jury when the judge refused to dismiss him for cause.

“As a surprise, we’ll thank and excuse juror 27.”

During jury selection, the topic of police attitudes came up. Former sheriff’s deputy Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold questioned individuals who mistrusted police in numerous heated moments, even coming close to fighting with some of them.

Following his unfavorable encounter with a speech pathologist, he questioned whether he should be suspicious of all women.

Arnold said, “Tell me about the documented corruption at LAPD that you must’ve either read about or heard.” Another prospective juror mentioned police corruption.

When they mentioned Rodney King, he questioned, “You are going to hold against current police something that happened before they were born?”

Barbadian singer/actress Rihanna and partner us rapper A$AP Rocky

Rocky and Rihanna, his longtime companion and mother of his two toddlers, were often questioned about their fame. She wasn’t in court Thursday and may not attend the trial.

“Will it be difficult to look over there, see the defendant’s family, and find the defendant guilty?” Deputy DA John Lewin asked one woman. Deputy DA John Lewin posed this question to one woman. Deputy DA John Lewin posed this question to one woman. Her long hesitation ended with “yes.”

Rocky faces accusations in 2021 of shooting his young friend Terell Ephron three or four times in Hollywood. Ephron reported the bullets grazed his knuckles. Rocky has denied guilt, and his lawyers allege he was clutching a starting pistol as a prop.