ASAP Rocky on Trial for 2021 Hollywood Shooting (Full Transcript)

Speaker 1: Now to the trial of rapper ASAP Rocky accused of assault in an alleged shooting in Hollywood in 2021. Some big testimony ahead this week. ABC's Morgan Norwood is here with the details. Good morning Morgan. Good morning to you Gio. ASAP Rocky back in court this week as you pointed out facing those two felony assault charges and prosecutors say this case centers around a video showing him firing a gun but his defense team says it was just a prop. With his career and freedom now on the line, the stakes couldn't be higher here. Dodging cameras and pushing past a flurry of reporters, Grammy-nominated rapper ASAP Rocky is now gearing up for what could be another dramatic return to the courtroom this week as he fights to clear his name in an explosive assault trial. Rocky, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers, pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault accused of shooting his former friend Terrell Efron, also a fellow rapper known as ASAP Relly. It was a fiery first day in court Friday with the Los Angeles County District Attorney telling jurors the case hinges on surveillance video. Footage he claims shows Rocky in a heated scuffle with Relly while holding a gun. You see on the video that Mr. Mayers is

Speaker 2: immediately aggressive towards Mr. Efron. Prosecutors say the video also shows Rocky

Speaker 1: firing at Relly who says his knuckles were grazed by the bullets but Rocky's attorney lies in grief. Accusing Relly of a financial shakedown, also claiming Rocky was carrying

Speaker 3: a prop gun from a music video. Rocky was advised by security to carry a prop gun to scare off potential attackers. He was licensed by the state of California. He could have

Speaker 1: legally had his own firearm. He didn't want to carry a real gun. The Harlem native rose to hip pop prominence in 2013, eventually collaborating with some of the biggest names in music. But his biggest collaboration? His life partnership with music superstar and mogul Rihanna. The two share two young children. But now growing questions about how Rihanna's

Speaker 4: celebrity umbrella could impact A$AP Rocky's case. His girlfriend's status as an entertainer shouldn't help him and it shouldn't hurt him in any way. So I feel like once you have that ground into the jurors, hopefully they're going to focus on the evidence.

Speaker 1: And A$AP Rocky of course faces a maximum 24 years in prison. He actually rejected an 11th hour plea deal that would have meant a significantly shorter 180 days behind bars. Guys, that trial is expected to continue on Tuesday with more testimony from witnesses and detectives.