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.
