A$AP Rocky declined a final plea deal offer from prosecutors as jury selection kicked off in Los Angeles on Tuesday (Jan. 21) in his 2021 shooting case.
Per The Associated Press, prosecutors offered the Harlem native — born Rakim Mayers — 180 days in jail as part of a deal that would see him plead guilty to one felony count of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. In addition to the six-month jail bid, L.A. County prosecutors were also reportedly looking to recommend three years of probation alongside a seven-year suspended sentence.
However, Rocky turned down the deal. “I respectfully decline, thank you,” he told the court, according to Rolling Stone‘s Nancy Dillon.
Rocky can face up to 24 years behind bars if convicted on all charges. The 36-year-old is being accused of firing a weapon at former affiliate A$AP Relli — born Terrell Ephron — in November 2021 by a Hollywood hotel.
The A$AP Mob frontman was arrested in April 2022 at Los Angeles International Airport and posted a $550,000 bond shortly after. He later pleaded not guilty to all charges in August 2022.
Ephron testified that the bullets grazed his knuckles as the feud reached a boiling point with his childhood friend.
Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, reportedly showed part of his hand on Tuesday when revealing a defense argument that his client was holding a “starter pistol” prop gun, which can be seen on security cameras on the night of the alleged shooting.
With jury selection underway, A$AP Rocky’s trial should officially begin later this week.
