Rapper A$AP Rocky's Trial: The Jury is Set

The trial of rapper A$AP Rocky is about to begin. A jury of five men and seven women has been chosen to decide his fate. They will hear opening statements on Friday. A$AP Rocky, who is 36 years old, is charged with firing a gun at a former friend in 2021. He turned down a plea deal that would have sent him to jail for 180 days. Instead, he chose to go to trial, where he could face up to 24 years in prison if found guilty. The jury selection process took two and a half days. Over a hundred people were considered. Those chosen include a podcast editor, a Trader Joe's employee, and a retired judge. Many were excused because of their ties to law enforcement or because they showed bias. The judge, who used to be a sheriff's deputy, had some heated moments with potential jurors. He questioned their mistrust of police and asked about their experiences with corruption. He also asked about their feelings towards Rihanna, A$AP Rocky's longtime partner and the mother of his children. A$AP Rocky is accused of shooting at his childhood friend, Terell Ephron, in Hollywood. Ephron says the shots grazed his knuckles. A$AP Rocky pleaded not guilty and says he was holding a starter pistol, not a real gun.