A$AP Rocky has the full support of his attorney, Joseph Tacopina, ahead of his gun assault trial, which begins on January 21.

The Harlem rapper, real name Rakim Mayers, was taken into custody in April 2022 in relation to the shooting of his former friend, Terell Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli, in November of the previous year. Rocky is alleged to have opened fire on Ephron, although he entered a not-guilty plea to two charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.

However, on Wednesday, January 15, shortly after the jury selection in the trial, Tacopina assured the public that Rocky would receive an acquittal.

According to “Rolling Stone,” it was reported that the “Taylor Swif” artist would receive a final plea deal offer from the prosecution, which Tacopina said his client would be unwilling to accept.

“He’s eager to tell his story. He would love the opportunity to do so,” Tacopina told “Rolling Stone.” “He’s very articulate, very intelligent. He’s a good human being, and that would come out if he testifies. But that’s a decision that has not been made yet. It depends [on] how the case goes.”

Security footage of the alleged confrontation between Rocky and Ephron outside a parking garage was shown in court during a preliminary hearing in 2023. Still, it omitted to exhibit the supposed shooting.

“There’s a reason that 10 police officers searched and didn’t find shell casings there,” Tacopina continued. “[It’s] not because they were blind or drunk or because they didn’t want to find it. It’s because they did a thorough job.”

The attorney also insisted that Rocky is “confident” in the trial, which he’s “ready to go forward” with. “He believes in justice, and he believes this is going to work out for him,” Tacopina continued. “The case against Rocky is fundamentally weak. It relies on testimony from people who are not credible. I believe the defense is very, very strong.”

Tacopina added that Rocky would rather separate Rihanna, the rapper’s “common law” wife, from the trial. “I know Rocky is very protective of Rihanna and doesn’t want her anywhere near this proceeding,” he explained. “But that’s a family decision they’ll make.”