Rihanna’s partner A$AP Rocky must stand trial on allegations he fired gun at former friend

Rapper A$AP Rocky must stand trial on allegations he fired a gun at a former friend and collaborator outside a Hollywood hotel in 2021, a Los Angeles judge has ruled.

Superior Court Judge ML Villar found there is enough evidence for the hip-hop star to stand trial after hearing roughly a day and a half of testimony at a preliminary hearing.

Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, allegedly pointed a handgun at Terell Ephron in November 2021 and allegedly fired the weapon in his direction in a subsequent confrontation.

He has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm.

His attorney attempted to cast doubt on the case while questioning a police detective.

The 35-year-old two-time Grammy nominee and fashion mogul is in a relationship with Rihanna, with whom he has two young children.

Mr Villar said “the totality of the video and testimony” shows there is sufficient evidence for the defendant to go to trial.

She emphasised preliminary hearings have a much lower evidence standard than a trial, and she was only finding probable cause.

Rocky, sitting in the courtroom, showed no visible reaction.

Rocky was previously given a two-year suspended sentence for assault during a brawl in Stockholm, Sweden, in August 2019.

He is known for songs including F***** Problems, Praise The Lord and Everyday.