Rapper Tory Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the feet in 2020. Judge David Herriford, of the Los Angeles Superior Court, handed down the sentence on August 8th, 2023.
Lanez, real name Daystar Peterson, was convinced on December 23rd, 2022 on three felony counts. The charges were assault with a semiautomatic weapon, having a loaded unregistered firearm, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. The sentencing hearing lasted two days. Prosecutors were seeking a 13 year sentence. Defense attorneys produced witnesses during the hearing, hoping Peterson would get probation.
The incident took place in July 2020 as Stallion was leaving a party, hosted at Kylie Jenner‘s home. Peterson allegedly shot her in the feet. Stallion, real name Megan Jovon Ruth Pete, wrote in her victim-impact statement that she couldn’t bring herself to be in the same room as Peterson. “He not only shot me. He made a mockery of my trauma,” Pete said in her statement read by Deputy District Attorney Kathy Ta.
Initially Pete was hesitant to “snitch,” later outing Peterson as her shooter on her Instagram feed. When police stopped the SUV containing Peterson and Pete, she told officers that she had stepped on glass causing her bleeding. Pete was taken by ambulance to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she required surgery. Doctors removed bullet fragments from her foot. While giving her testimony, Pete claims Peterson offered her $1 million to keep quiet about the shooting. Pete was found guilty by a jury on December 23rd.
Since Pete named Peterson as her shooter, several celebrities have spoken about the case. “WAP” collaborator, Cardi B has been one of Pete’s supporters about this case. “Why would somebody lie about getting shot?” Cardi asked in an Instagram Live. Personally I’m glad that the “Hot Girl Summer” singer got justice for this situation.
Peterson’s attorneys have already started work on appealing the conviction and sentencing. Judge Herriford has received over 70 letters of support for Peterson, including one from Australian rapper, Iggy Azalea.
