Tory Lanez gets 10 years in prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion

Rapper Tory Lanez was handed a 10-year prison sentence by Judge David Herriford of the Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday for the shooting of fellow hip-hop artist Megan Thee Stallion. The 31-year-old musician was found guilty of three felony charges in December, including assault with a semiautomatic weapon, possessing an unregistered, loaded firearm in his car, and discharging a firearm with extreme negligence.

The judgment concludes a highly-publicized trial that ignited a series of debates within the hip-hop culture, touching on various subjects such as the hesitancy of Black victims to communicate with law enforcement, gender dynamics within the hip-hop world, online aggression, safeguarding Black women, and the specific kind of misogyny faced by Black women known as misogynoir.

In the trial, Lanez’s character was a point of contention. Although many portrayed him as a compassionate, philanthropic individual, and a caring father, Judge Herriford struggled to reconcile this image with the person who shot at Megan. The judge commented, “Sometimes good people do bad things,” emphasizing that every action has consequences.

During the sentencing hearing, Megan revealed that Lanez fired at her feet, demanding her to dance, after they left a party at Kylie Jenner’s house in July 2020. The incident left her in need of surgery to remove bullet fragments, and she stated that she hasn’t had a peaceful day since.

Lanez expressed remorse and pleaded for mercy before his sentencing, taking full responsibility for his wrongdoings that night and requesting probation or a minimal jail term. Family and friends, including his father, Sonstar Peterson, and rapper Iggy Azalea, spoke of Lanez’s character and charity work, pleading for a reformative sentence.

The background of Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, was also brought into focus, including the death of his mother when he was 11. His career milestones, steady rise in popularity, and personal life were discussed.

Meanwhile, Megan Thee Stallion’s stardom has continued to grow since the incident, with major successes like a Grammy win for best new artist and hit singles like “Savage” and “WAP.”

The trial saw supporters of Lanez argue that his prosecution was unjust, and his father even denounced the system. Following the verdict, Lanez was imprisoned, and his lawyers plan to appeal the conviction.

Judge Herriford denied a motion for a new trial on May 9, made by Lanez’s defense attorneys, who argued for insufficient evidence and improper inclusion of certain evidence. They had sought probation for Lanez and his release into a residential substance abuse program.

Earlier in the day, the judge acknowledged Megan as an exceptionally vulnerable victim, but did not see Lanez’s actions as particularly cruel or cold-hearted. Megan’s scarring, both physical and emotional, was noted by Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott, indicating that she will carry these scars for the rest of her life.

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