A$AP Rocky’s upcoming court date doesn’t appear to be affecting him, as he’s been seen in public with his partner Rihanna on multiple occasions recently.
The rapper is being charged with assault with a firearm in relation to a shooting incident in Hollywood last year. Rocky is due to appear in court Wednesday and could face up to nine years in prison if he’s found guilty.
While he is facing serious charges and lengthy jail time, Rocky has been spotted out with Rihanna recently. In May, it was reported that Rihanna had given birth to a son, the couple’s first child together. The name has yet to be publicly confirmed.
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The couple were spotted together in New York City on Friday, laughing as they walked around the city. A few days later they were photographed together again, this time stepping off a flight in Los Angeles while a member of their security team carried their son to the car. The images of them disembarking from the plane were taken on Sunday by Backgrid.
On Monday, it was confirmed that the Los Angeles district attorney had charged Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, with assault with a firearm. He faces two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm with allegations of personally using a firearm.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Rocky is set to be arraigned Wednesday in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom.
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Rocky was first arrested in April in connection with the November 2021 shooting that was non-fatal; he was later released on bail of $550,000. Following a warrant for his arrest, law enforcement found multiple firearms while searching Rocky’s property.
At the time, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Twitter account shared details of the incident and confirmed they’d arrested Rocky.
33-year-old Rakim Mayers, a Los Angeles resident, also known as music artist A$AP Rocky, has been arrested in connection to a shooting that occurred in the Hollywood area in November of 2021. pic.twitter.com/YeV9w2udDL
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) April 20, 2022
A member of the A$AP collective, A$AP Relli (a.k.a. Terell Ephron) identified himself as the alleged victim. He is suing Rocky, alleging assault and battery, negligence and emotional distress.
Ephron claimed he was “lured” to a location in Hollywood where Rocky fired multiple shots. According to the court papers, Ephron stated he was “struck by bullet projectile/fragments” in his left hand and required medical attention. He is seeking at least $25,000 in damages.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said: “Discharging a gun in a public place is a serious offense that could have ended with tragic consequences, not only for the person targeted but also for innocent bystanders visiting Hollywood.
“My office conducted a thorough review of the evidence in this case and determined that the addition of a special firearm allegation was warranted.”
A$AP Rocky and Rihanna have reportedly been together since 2020, with Rocky confirming their relationship to GQ in May 2021 and calling her the “love of my life.”
Newsweek reached out to Rocky’s representatives for comment.