A$AP Rocky‘s trial for his two felony charges of assault with a semi-automatic firearm has been pushed to 2025 following a conflict with a Rolling Loud performance.
Legal Affairs & Trials reporter Meghann Cuniff was present at the Harlem rapper’s pretrial conference on Tuesday (October 22), and confirmed that Judge Mark Arnold approved the request from Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina. The previous date of November 12 conflicted with Rocky’s set at Rolling Loud Thailand.
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“If he said no, you know, Rocky would be here on November 12, obviously. I’d be here. But he was very accommodating,” Tacopina said to reporters outside of the courthouse.
The trial readiness day – a hearing where both sides let the court know if they’re ready for the forthcoming trial – has been set for December 30.
New date for A$AP Rocky’s trial is January 21.
Prosecutor wants to make sure the date works for all witnesses.
“I want to go forward on January the 21st,” Judge Mark Arnold says.
“I agree,” Deputy District Attorney Paul Przelomiec says.
Trial readiness day on Dec. 30.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) October 22, 2024
Tacopina spoke with reporters outside the courthouse.
He said Judge Arnold agreed to delay the trial after learning of A$AP Rocky’s concert in Thailand.
“If he said no, you know, Rocky would be here on November 12, obviously. I’d be here. But he was very accommodating.” pic.twitter.com/swD5YWAwmb
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) October 22, 2024
As previously reported, A$AP Rocky is accused of shooting former A$AP Mob affiliate A$AP Relli in 2021. He faces up to 24 years in prison if found guilty.
Last year, a judge ruled that there was enough evidence for him to stand trial over the charges.
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According to Relli, tensions between the two ignited after Rocky allegedly promised to help the family of a deceased member of the A$AP Mob, but never did.
During a meeting in a Los Angeles hotel back in 2021, Relli claims that A$AP Rocky arrived with multiple men, pointed a gun at his stomach and said: “I’ll kill you right now.”
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He then testified that he was shot shortly afterwards and claims Rocky shot him four times — including once in the hand — before fleeing the scene.
Security footage pieced together from various nearby parking garages appeared to show a firearm in the rapper’s possession while getting into an altercation before he flees.
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A video shown in court during a preliminary hearing included audio of two gunshots around 10 p.m. PT on November 6, 2021, which aligns with prosecutors’ records.
Relli is also suing Rocky and Tacopina for defamation, accusing them of running a media campaign that paints him as a liar.
Relli’s lawyer, Camille Vasquez, claimed in court documents that Tacopina told Rolling Stone in September 2021 that Rocky “didn’t shoot [Relli] by any stretch,” and described the alleged shooting as a “false scenario” and a way to garner money.
As a result of Tacopina’s remarks, A$AP Relli has “suffered damage to his reputation and his personal brand; goodwill in the community as a member of A$AP Mob” and potentially lost future income “as a result of the negative publicity.” He is seeking punitive or exemplary damages, plus legal fees.
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Rocky has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
