Los Angeles, CA – Rapper Tory Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, has been handed a 10-year prison sentence in connection with the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. The Canadian artist’s legal battle came to a conclusion on Tuesday (August 8) as he was found guilty in a Los Angeles court of all 3 charges against him, including assault with a semiautomatic firearm, negligent discharge of a firearm, and carrying an unregistered firearm in a vehicle.
Originally slated for sentencing in February this year, Lanez’s legal team attempted a new trial in March, which was ultimately denied. After two weeks of a high-profile trial that caught widespread attention, a jury of seven women and five men deliberated for two days before reaching their verdict.
The incident in question occurred on July 12th, 2020, following a pool party at Kylie Jenner’s mansion in the Hollywood Hills. Megan Thee Stallion and Lanez were in a vehicle when an argument reportedly escalated, and Lanez allegedly opened fire, hitting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot, leading to her needing surgery. Initially, she claimed her injury resulted from stepping on broken glass, but later, she spoke out about the incident after witnessing Lanez’s alleged lack of remorse.
Prosecutors had sought a 13-year sentence for Lanez, citing his alleged violations of pre-trial court orders and his actions as a form of humiliation towards Megan Thee Stallion. Lanez’s defense team requested either probation or a three-year prison sentence, emphasizing his alcohol addiction and childhood trauma as factors to consider.
Throughout the trial, Lanez maintained his innocence, but during the sentencing, he expressed “full responsibility” for his actions. He stated, “If I could change it, I would but I can’t… I truly am just trying to be a better person.”
Judge David Herriford, in delivering the sentence, highlighted Lanez’s “reckless and dangerous” actions and the physical and emotional harm inflicted on Megan Thee Stallion. He noted Lanez’s prior history of violence, which included a previous assault conviction.
Following the sentencing, Lanez extended his regards to Megan Thee Stallion, expressing that he still cares for her deeply. He is set to commence his sentence on September 14, 2023.
As Megan Thee Stallion’s statement was read during the sentencing, she conveyed the lasting impact of the incident: “Since I was viciously shot by the defendant, I have not experienced a single day of peace. Slowly but surely, I’m healing and coming back, but I will never be the same.” She chose not to be present at the sentencing due to her discomfort around Lanez.
In an April interview with ELLE magazine, Megan Thee Stallion asserted her survivor status, emphasizing her resilience after surviving the traumatic event. She referred to Lanez’s guilty verdict as a “victory for every woman who has ever been shamed, dismissed, and blamed for a violent crime committed against them.”
