Relli Testifies Against ASAP Rocky in Shooting Case

Terell Ephron, known as Relli, took the stand in the ongoing trial against A$AP Rocky, testifying about the alleged shooting incident involving the rapper. According to Relli, the situation escalated quickly after a tense phone call with Rocky the day before the incident, where Rocky allegedly badmouthed him during a conversation with A$AP Bari. Relli, who had been friends with Rocky since high school, claimed their relationship had soured, leading to a confrontation the following day.

Relli testified that when he woke up to multiple missed calls and a FaceTime from Rocky, he interpreted it as a sign of trouble. Rocky reportedly texted him, saying, “Let’s get to it … stop ducking my calls,” which Relli took as a challenge. Relli claimed that when he met Rocky at a Hollywood hotel, the rapper arrived with two men by his side. After a heated argument, Relli said Rocky pulled a gun from his waistband and fired, with a bullet grazing Relli’s knuckles.

Relli recalled in court, “I was willing to die for my respect. If this is what you want to do, I still have my dignity.” He also denied Rocky’s attorney’s claim that the gun was a movie prop, stating he had never seen Rocky with any gun, let alone a prop, before the incident.

Rocky, who faces two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, has pleaded not guilty and rejected a plea deal. His lawyer, Joe Tacopina, dismissed Relli’s allegations as an attempt at extortion, calling the claims “bogus.” The rapper is facing up to 24 years in prison if convicted.

Court proceedings ended for the day with Relli still on the stand, and Rihanna, Rocky’s partner and mother of his two children, is expected to attend the trial on Wednesday in support of her fiancé.