ASAP Rocky Rejects Plea Deal On First Day of Gun Assault Trial
The rapper said “no thanks” to jail time and probation on the first day of court.
ASAP Rocky is standing his ground. The Harlem rapper began his gun assault trial on Tuesday (Jan. 21) and made it clear he’s not interested in any deals prosecutors are offering.
Prosecutors laid out a plea deal during the first day of the trial: 180 days in county jail, three years of probation, and a seven-year suspended sentence if Rocky pled guilty to one count of assault.
“I respectfully decline. Thank you,” he told the court, as reported by Rolling Stone’s Nancy Dillon.
Rocky has already pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and according to his lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, he’s not budging. “He’s not willing to take anything they’re offering,” Tacopina shared. If convicted, Rocky could be looking at up to 24 years behind bars, but that doesn’t seem to faze him.
“He’s eager to tell his story,” Tacopina added. “He’s smart, he’s articulate, and he’s a good person. That would all come through if he testifies. But whether he’ll take the stand depends on how the case plays out.”
The defense is leaning on a key claim: the gun seen in security footage was actually a starter pistol—a prop gun Rocky reportedly carried for protection. The prosecution is expected to push back on this argument, so it’ll be a major point of contention in the trial.
The case dates back to Nov. 6, 2021, when an argument between ASAP Rocky and ASAP Relli turned physical in Hollywood. Security footage showed a fight at the corner of Selma Ave. and Vista Del Mar Ave., and at one point, a gun was fired. However, no weapon was ever recovered, and LAPD Detective Frank Flores admitted the video evidence doesn’t definitively show the shooting.
Meanwhile, Rocky isn’t letting the trial slow him down entirely. He’s set to headline Rolling Loud California on March 15, and a portion of ticket sales will support GoFundMe’s Wildfire Relief Fund. Even with everything going on, he’s staying focused on his music and making an impact.