Canadian rapper Tory Lanez has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting fellow musician Megan Thee Stallion. The shooting occurred after an argument between the two artists following a party in 2020. Lanez was found guilty of three gun-related charges in December and has been in custody since then.
The incident, which caused division in the music industry, resulted in Megan Thee Stallion requiring surgery to remove bullet fragments from her feet. Highlighting the significance of the case, the Los Angeles District Attorney stated that Megan Thee Stallion’s fame “has brought an important spotlight on the issue of violence against women.”
Prosecutors had requested a 13-year prison sentence for Lanez, emphasizing that the shooting targeted a “vulnerable victim,” followed by “a campaign to humiliate and re-traumatise her” after the attack. Lanez’s lawyer, Jose Baez, plans to appeal the sentence due to perceived flaws in the trial.
During the trial, Megan Thee Stallion, a triple Grammy winner, revealed the profound impact the incident had on her life. She expressed that she will “never be the same” following the attack.
The shooting took place as the two artists left a pool party hosted by reality star Kylie Jenner. The argument escalated, leading to the shooting. Megan demanded to be let out of the vehicle, prompting Lanez to fire shots at the ground and instruct her to “dance.”
Lanez’s legal team suggested that Megan’s friend and assistant, Kelsey Harris, might have been responsible for the shooting due to jealousy. Harris initially indicated Lanez as the shooter but later retracted her statement, claiming she did not see who fired the shots. Despite the defense’s arguments, Lanez was convicted of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.
At his sentencing, Lanez delivered a statement, acknowledging responsibility for unspecified actions that occurred that night, despite maintaining his innocence throughout and after the trial.
“There’s been this misconception about me being this monster or not having remorse, that’s just not true,” Lane told the court.
“That night was a night that everyone was drunk… I said some very immature things. If I could turn back the series of events… I would, but I can’t.”
“But to think that I am some sort of callous individual is not the case. The victim was my friend… [and] she still is to this day.”
“I did wrong that night and I take full responsibility and culpability for it,” the star added.
The sentencing has sparked discussions about violence against women and the broader implications of such cases within the music industry.
