Musician Tory Lanez has been handed a 10-year prison sentence for shooting rapper Megan Thee Stallion in 2020. The Canadian rapper, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, was found guilty in December 2022. He faced three charges related to the shooting incident.
During the trial, prosecutors had sought a 13-year prison term for the 30-year-old Lanez. His defense team, on the other hand, had advocated for probation and enrollment in a residential drug treatment program. They argued that Lanez struggled with alcoholism as a way to cope with childhood trauma.
Since his conviction in December, Lanez has been held in a county jail. In court, Megan Thee Stallion testified on Monday about the emotional toll the shooting had taken on her. She expressed, “Since I was viciously shot by the defendant, I have not experienced a single day of peace. Slowly but surely, I’m healing and coming back, but I will never be the same.”
Lanez’s lawyer, Jose Baez, stated that the rapper maintains his innocence. Baez emphasized that Lanez’s incarceration could negatively impact the financial support he provides to non-profit organizations and individuals. Baez proposed a yearlong residential treatment program for Lanez to address his issues with alcohol abuse.
During the court proceedings, Lanez’s father, Sonstar Peterson, shared an emotional account of his son’s challenges. He highlighted how Lanez’s music became an outlet for him after losing his mother at the age of 11. Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion had been close friends, drawn together by the shared experience of losing their mothers. They had turned to alcohol to numb their pain.
Tory Lanez’s sentencing to 10 years in prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion marks a significant legal outcome. The case has shed light on the personal struggles and coping mechanisms of both artists, as well as the lasting impact of traumatic events on their lives.