Felony assault charges for ASAP Rocky

The rapper allegedly fired a semiautomatic weapon, injuring one person, who is suing.

The Los Angeles district attorney on Monday charged rapper ASAP Rocky with assault with a firearm in connection with a shooting in November in Hollywood.

Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, faces two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm with allegations of personally using a firearm. He is slated to be arraigned Wednesday in a downtown L. A. courtroom.

“Discharging a gun in a public place is a serious offense that could have ended with tragic consequences not only for the person targeted but also for innocent bystanders visiting Hollywood,” said Dist. Atty. George Gascón in announcing the charges. “My office conducted a thorough review of the evidence in this case and determined that the addition of a special firearm allegation was warranted.”

Mayers could not immediately be reached for comment.

Prosecutors allege that the rapper pointed a semiautomatic handgun at the victim. In a subsequent confrontation between the two parties, he allegedly drew the semiautomatic handgun and f ired twice in the direction of the victim, according to prosecutors. The victim sustained a minor injury.

Terell Ephron, a onetime associate of Mayers known as ASAP Relli, identified himself as the victim and sued Mayers last week in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging assault and battery, negligence and emotional distress.

The lawsuit alleges that Ephron and Mayers agreed to meet to resolve their differences, but after a verbal altercation, Mayers “pulled out a handgun and purposefully pointed it in the direction of [ Ephron] and f ired multiple shots.”

Ephron was “struck by bullet projectile/ fragments” and required medical attention, according to the lawsuit, which said a large portion of the incident was captured on video.

Los Angeles police found multiple firearms at Mayers’ home while serving a search warrant after his arrest in connection with the shooting.

Mayers was arrested April 20 after stepping off a private jet at Los Angeles International Airport on his way back from Barbados, authorities said. He had been vacationing with singer Rihanna, who recently gave birth to their first child.

Mayers was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the Nov. 6 incident.

He is free on $ 550,000 bail.