Tayyaba
In the conclusion of the highly publicized trial, a verdict has finally been reached on rapper Tory Lanez’s charges stemming from the 2020 shooting of his fellow musician Megan Thee Stallion. The jury’s decision, however, may come as a surprise to some. Here’s what we know:
What is the verdict on the Meghan Thee Stallion shooting case?
After hours of deliberation, a jury decided to acquit Canadian rapper Tory Lanez on all the charges he had been facing. In December, the artist received guilty verdicts on three gun-related charges, and on Tuesday was subsequently sentenced to 10 years in prison. In response to the sentence, Lanez expressed reluctance to apologize for actions he has “not committed” on social media. Prosecutors had demanded a 13-year sentence, asserting that the artist shot a “vulnerable victim” and waged a “campaign to humiliate and re-traumatize her.”
With the verdict of December, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon highlighted the stigma around assault and sexual violence, particularly for black women, who are reluctant to report their abusers due to the fear of not being believed. Defense lawyer Jose Baez, who represented Tory, spoke to reporters outside the courthouse and claimed that Lanez felt his 10-year sentence was excessive and that he would be appealing his conviction for not receiving a fair trial. In light of the judge’s verdict, Lanez and his lawyers pushed for a sentence of probation and time in a drug treatment center.
What happened the night Meghan Thee Stallion was shot?
While the pair were riding home from a pool party at Kylie Jenner’s Hollywood mansion, rapper Tory Lanez shot Grammy-winning artist Megan Thee Stallion, leaving her with injuries to her feet. Prior to the shooting, the two artists had an argument that escalated to insults about their careers. Megan testified that she demanded to be let out of the vehicle and that’s when Lanez started shooting at the ground and shouted at her to “dance”. She was hospitalized for four days after being shot in the foot and required surgery to treat her injuries. Lanez was convicted of three felonies: assault with a semi-automatic firearm; having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle; and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.