Tory Lanez sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion

Miu von Furstenberg 4 Min Read
Tory Lanez BMI's How I Wrote That Song 2018
Tory Lanez discusses his creative process during BMI's How I Wrote That Song 2018 on January 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for BMI)

Rapper Tory Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison Tuesday in Los Angeles for shooting fellow artist Megan Thee Stallion.

Last December, Tory Lanez, whose given name is Daystar Peterson, was found guilty of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot in July 2020 as they left a party at the home of celebrity Kylie Jenner.

At his conviction, Peterson was found guilty of all three charges prosecutors had brought against him: assault with a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm, and negligent discharge of a gun for shooting Megan.

Megan Thee Stallion Coach 1941 - Front Row - September 2019 - New York Fashion Week
Megan Thee Stallion attends the front row for Coach 1941 during New York Fashion Week on September 10, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images)

When the shooting occurred, Megan Thee Stallion, whose given name is Megan Pete, had left the party with Peterson along with another woman, Kelsey Harris, who was at the time Megan's assistant and a close friend, as well as Peterson's bodyguard. After Pete and Peterson argued, she exited the car, and he began shooting at her feet.

Prosecutors had sought a sentence of 13 years in prison for the rapper. After the shooting, they said, Peterson launched “a campaign to humiliate and re-traumatize the victim” and “weaponized misinformation” on social media to turn public opinion against Megan.

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Pete told police that she had stepped on broken glass. During her testimony at Peterson's trial last December, she said that she was so afraid of the police and Peterson that she couldn't immediately tell the truth. “I don't feel safe in the car. I don't feel safe with the police,” she said through tears.

2019 American Music Awards - Red Carpet
Megan Thee Stallion attends the 2019 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for dcp)

She also testified that Peterson had offered her and Harris $1 million each to keep quiet about the shooting.

On an album released two months after the shooting, Peterson included lyrics denying that he had shot her and asserting that he had been framed.

On Monday's first day of the sentencing hearing, the judge heard statements supporting Peterson, while dozens of people submitted letters to the court on his behalf.

The maximum sentence for the crimes Peterson was convicted of is 22 years and eight months in prison. However, due to a recently passed California law meant to measure criminal justice reform, courts are now required to impose the middle length of a possible prison term unless there are aggravating circumstances.

Tory Lanez 2018 BET Awards Radio Remotes - Day 2
Tory Lanez attends the radio boradcast center during the 2018 BET Awards on June 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Getty Images)

Judge David Herriford had previously denied Peterson's request for a retrial. Peterson, who is a Canadian citizen, also potentially faces deportation from the United States after he serves his sentence.


LINK LOVE

SL RECOMMENDS

Like most websites, Socialite Life uses affiliate links where available, which means we earn a little commission if you click through and buy something. Also, as Amazon Influencers, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Sale
Cher: The Memoir: Part One of a Two-Part Memoir from the Iconic Artist and Actor (The Cher Memoir, 1)
Now 20% smaller and 30% lighter, to keep you moving wherever you go.

Last update on 2024-12-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Share This Article