Tory Lanez Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Shooting Megan Thee Stallion

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced on August 8, (2023), that Daystar Peterson, better known as Tory Lanez, has been sentenced to 10 years in state prison. This decision comes after a jury convicted him of the 2020 attack and shooting involving artist Megan Pete, also known as Megan Thee Stallion, in the Hollywood Hills.

District Attorney George Gascón shared the news. He said that over the past three years, Tory tried to intimidate and silence Megan. Gascón praised Megan's bravery for speaking up, especially because women, especially Black women, often don't report crimes out of fear that they won't be believed.

Gascón said, “Over the past three years, Mrs. Peterson (Tory Lanez) has engaged in a pattern of conduct that was intended to intimidate Ms. Pete (Megan Thee Stallion) and silence her truth from being heard. Women, especially Black women, are afraid to report crimes like assault because they are too often not believed. I commend Megan Pete for her incredible bravery and vulnerability as she underwent months of probing investigation and court appearances where she had to relive her trauma and the public scrutiny that followed. This case highlighted the numerous ways that our society must do better for women.”

Evidence presented during the trial revealed that on July 12, 2020, Peterson and the victim were traveling together in an SUV in the Hollywood Hills. During the course of events, the victim exited the vehicle, after which Peterson shot five times at her, resulting in her being wounded.

The Los Angeles Police Department conducted a thorough investigation into the case, which concluded with the recent sentencing of Tory Lanez to 10 years in prison.

Last year, after seven hours of deliberation, Tory Lanez was found guilty by jurors of one count of assault with an automatic firearm. The jurors also found the allegations true that he caused great bodily injury and used a firearm. Additionally, he was convicted of one count of carrying an unregistered loaded firearm in a vehicle and one count of discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

Today on August 8, (2023) Lanez has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for firing a gun at fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion in a 2020 incident that left her with bullet fragments in her feet. The sentencing marked a moment of closure for Megan, who revealed that she had not experienced a single day of peace since the incident occurred.

Tory Lanez's attorney, Jose Baez, was quick to criticize the sentence, calling it “incredibly harsh” and citing it as another example of a celebrity being punished for their status. Baez continued to assert Lanez's innocence, claiming that his client did not shoot the gun and that he was suffering from the consequences of the trial.

During the court proceedings, Megan Thee Stallion's powerful victim statement was read aloud, expressing her ongoing struggles following the shooting. She shared that she couldn't bring herself to be in the same room as Lanez and that the incident had pushed her into a dark place, forever changing her life. She also highlighted the importance of responsibility, stating, “Mercy can only be granted to those who accept responsibility.”

Tory Lanez's emotional day in court was accompanied by statements from eight witnesses who spoke on his behalf. Two witnesses were even recalled by the defense, while others submitted letters of support.

Notably, rapper Iggy Azalea‘s letter of support garnered significant backlash. Azalea defended her stance on social media, clarifying that she supported prison reform and reasonable punishments, but also found herself caught in the midst of sensationalism.

Azalea went on social media to explain her thoughts by posting these messages: “I really hate that this is today's discourse online because it's not really an explosive revelation. Yes: he should be held accountable. No: the charges don't warrant 5 plus in prison. Most agree with that sentiment because it's a reasonable take. This is not news worthy.”

“I don't ‘support' anyone. The whole thing is full of oddities. My letter never mentioned anything in regard to what happened that night.”

“I was told this was for a judge only. yet it's being discussed in public? I never intended to publicly comment.”

“I am not in support of throwing away ANYONE'S life if we can give reasonable punishments that are rehabilitative instead. I support prison reform. Period.”

“I was asked to write about my genuine experience and the type of punishment I think he deserves: I did.”

“It's not really that interesting but I understand why it's being sensationalized… See ya next week to discuss pizza toppings I suppose. Lol.”

Boosie Badazz also reacted to Tory's 10-year sentence. He gave his opinion, where he talked about the sentence and how it's different from what he knows in Louisiana.

Boosie's words show that he's a bit surprised and thinking about the sentence Tory Lanez got. He said that Lanez “got off light, bro.” Boosie also said he doesn't really know how things work in California, but he guessed that Lanez might only have to spend five years in prison because of daytime rules. He said it's different in Louisiana, where he's from, and he said that if this happened there, Lanez could have gotten 40 years.

The Louisiana rapper talked about how crimes against women, especially ones that many people see on TV, are treated by the law. He used the words “faulty” to talk about how things can be messed up. He said that in Louisiana, doing a crime against a woman would mean a much tougher punishment, and he used the word “faulty” again.

Boosie also talked about his own experience. He said he got 10 years in prison in Louisiana because of weed, and he compared it to Lanez's shorter sentence for something he did to a woman. Boosie talked about how different places can give very different punishments for similar things.

Even though the situation is serious, Boosie said he sees that Tory Lanez has talent and that he'll come back even stronger. Boosie believes that Lanez's talent can't be taken away, and he thinks Lanez will make a strong comeback in the music industry.

Bringing the trial to an emotional close, Lanez's father once more stood by his son's side in court to show his strong support before the final judgment. Tory Lanez, taking the floor for several minutes, expressed his deep affection for Megan Thee Stallion despite any negative feelings she might hold towards him. Just like Tory, Megan has also experienced the loss of her mother. He shared how they found common ground in using alcohol as a way to cope with their pain, saying they drank until they felt “numb.” This day held a lot of emotions for those who support Tory.

Tory's attorney shared a message for the future, stating, “There will be an appeal, no matter what. We will take things one step at a time.” This shows that the legal journey isn't finished, and they are still figuring out what to do next. The road ahead remains uncertain as they strive to find a resolution in this complex case.