Tory Lanez’s father pleads for mercy at rapper’s sentencing for shooting Megan Thee Stallion

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During the sentencing for the shooting and wounding of hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion, rapper Tory Lanez’s father became emotional in court. He spoke about how his son had experienced the tragic loss of his mother at the age of 11, which had a profound impact on him. Prosecutors are seeking a 13-year sentence for the 31-year-old Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson.

Sonstar Peterson, who is a Christian minister, choked back tears while talking about his late wife, Luella, who passed away shortly after showing symptoms of a rare blood disorder. He expressed that losing a mother at such a young age is an indescribable pain, but music became Tory Lanez’s outlet to cope with the loss.

Numerous individuals, including Lanez’s son’s mother and rapper Iggy Azalea, provided character references and letters to Judge David Herriford. The judge shared that Lanez’s 6-year-old son had written him a handwritten letter as well. A chaplain from the Los Angeles County jail testified about Lanez’s positive influence in the protective custody unit, where he has been held since his conviction in December.

Sonstar Peterson also expressed regret for his emotional outburst in court after the verdict was announced, where he criticized the justice system. The judge is set to sentence Lanez later on Monday, and prosecutors anticipate that Megan Thee Stallion may give a statement in court or have one read on her behalf. The prosecutor highlighted the physical and emotional scarring Megan has endured due to the shooting.

Lanez’s defense lawyers argued for probation and release from jail to enter a residential substance abuse program, and they plan to appeal his conviction. Lanez had been found guilty of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

Megan Thee Stallion testified during the trial that Lanez fired at the back of her feet and asked her to dance as she walked away from an SUV after leaving a party in summer 2020. Both artists had seen their careers rise significantly before the incident, with Megan Thee Stallion winning a Grammy for Best New Artist and achieving No. 1 singles.

The case against Lanez sparked discussions about misogynoir, a specific form of misogyny experienced by Black women, and led to waves of misinformation and online vitriol targeted at Megan Pete, professionally known as Megan Thee Stallion.

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• “Tory Lanez’s father pleads for mercy at rapper’s sentencing for shooting Megan Thee Stallion” (Source: Los Angeles Times)
• “What to know ahead of Tory Lanez’s sentencing in Megan Thee Stallion’s shooting” (Source: Revolt)
• “LA jury convicts Tory Lanez of shooting Megan Thee Stallion” (Source: The Guardian)
• “Megan Thee Stallion: Biography” (Source: AllMusic)
• “Tory Lanez: Biography” (Source: Rolling Stone)
• “Misogynoir: Understanding the Specific Misogyny Faced by Black Women” (Source: The Guardian)