The third day of testimony in the A$AP Rocky assault and weapons trial saw his superstar girlfriend Rihanna seated in court as the alleged victim described the moment he says he was shot.
Terell Ephron, 36, also known as A$AP Relli, recalled a confrontation with former friend A$AP Rocky — whose real name is Rakim Mayers — on a Hollywood street in 2021.
“Mentally I couldn’t believe he just pulled the gun out on me,” Ephron testified, in the court proceedings which streamed live online. “So I’m like what the f–k? You better use that s-t. What f–k you got a gun for?”
During the Wednesday, Jan. 29 court day in Los Angeles, Ephron told the jury he was shot at twice, with one bullet grazing the knuckles on his left hand. He said he initially didn’t believe Mayers would fire but described his hand feeling “hot” after the first shot, the Associated Press reported.
Related: A$AP Rocky Rejects Plea Deal as Trial Begins in Hollywood Shooting Case
ASAP Relli took the stand & testified against his former friend ASAP Rocky. ASAP Rocky turned down a 180 day plea deal & is facing 20 years pic.twitter.com/2zQHRntf5Z
— SAY CHEESE! ?? (@SaycheeseDGTL) January 29, 2025
Ephron testified that after the first shot, he grabbed Illijah Ulanga — also known as A$AP Illz, a member of A$AP Rocky’s A$AP Mob — and used him as a shield.
“Illz was petrified,” Ephron recalled. “He was screaming, ‘You literally could’ve gotten me killed!’”
Mayers’ attorney, Joe Tacopina, says the weapon was a prop gun from a music video and not capable of firing real bullets. The gun has never been recovered. Los Angeles police officers have said they never found any shell casings at the scene.
The Associated Press reports that Ephron said he later found two shell casings at the location, took photos, and placed them in a paper bag.
Ephron also testified that going to the police about the shooting ruined his career in hip-hop management, with former associates labeling him a “snitch.”
Rihanna, who has been in a relationship with A$AP Rocky since 2020 and shares two sons with him, avoided the crush of media and used a private entrance to enter the court building in downtown L.A.
Mayers was arrested in April 2022 upon returning to Los Angeles from a trip with Rihanna.
He is charged with two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. The Grammy-nominated performer has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he could serve up to 24 years in prison.
Back in November 2023, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge M.L. Villar ruled there was “sufficient evidence” to allow the case against A$AP Rocky to go to trial.
This comes after A$AP Rocky rejected a final prosecution offer for a plea deal on Jan. 21 as his assault and weapons trial began.
Testimony resumes Thursday when defense attorneys are expected to cross examine Ephron.
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