LOS ANGELES - The much-awaited trial decision for rapper A$AP Rocky hangs in the balance as Los Angeles Superior Court Judge M.L. Villar weighs the evidence presented in the case. Rocky, who is facing two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm for allegedly shooting at his former friend and collaborator Terell Ephron, has pleaded not guilty. Judge Villar is expected to make a ruling by the end of the day.

During the hearing, Rocky's attorney, Joe Tacopina, raised doubts about the evidence, arguing that it was vague, inconclusive, and poorly collected. Tacopina pointed out that when the scene was searched by seven officers approximately 20 minutes after the alleged shooting, no evidence of the incident was found. Additionally, it was revealed that the shell casings, which were recovered by Ephron about an hour later, did not contain recoverable fingerprints.

Tacopina also played body camera footage showing the officers searching the area, further questioning the credibility of the prosecution's case. However, prosecutors presented a separate video recording with audio capturing what sounded like two gunshots near the scene. The identity of the man in the video was later established as Rocky by LAPD Detective Frank Flores.

During the hearing, Detective Flores admitted under Tacopina's questioning that no 9mm pistol was recovered when a search warrant was executed on Rocky. Prosecutors, on the other hand, relied on surveillance video images showing a man in a hooded sweatshirt holding what appeared to be a gun. Flores testified that the combined images led them to identify the man as Rocky.

Further discussions between Tacopina and Detective Flores centered around the weapon used in the incident. Tacopina suggested that the police had no way of determining if the gun was loaded or even real, highlighting that it was never recovered or tested. Detective Flores acknowledged this, stating that without the physical gun, he couldn't confirm its operability.

The hearing also included testimony from Ephron, who claimed that his relationship with Rocky had deteriorated and led to the Hollywood standoff. Ephron alleged that Rocky initially pulled a gun on him and later fired shots that grazed his knuckles. Tacopina attempted to undermine Ephron's credibility, questioning why he waited until returning to New York to seek medical treatment for his minor injury.

Rocky, a two-time Grammy nominee, gained worldwide attention during his arrest and subsequent trial in Sweden in 2019, where he was found guilty of assault but given a conditional sentence. The rapper's high-profile status was further emphasized by his romantic relationship with superstar Rihanna and his role as Puma's creative director.

Preliminary hearings like these serve as a prelude to a trial, and it is solely up to the judge to determine if the presented evidence is sufficient to proceed. It's important to note that the standard of proof required during this phase is significantly lower than what is ultimately needed to establish criminal guilt.

As Judge Villar deliberates, both the prosecution and the defense anxiously await the courtroom decision that will determine A$AP Rocky's fate in the Hollywood shooting case.