Rapper Tory Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, was sentenced to 10 years for felony assault and two other firearm-related charges in the 2020 shooting and wounding of fellow hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion.
Tory Lanez sentenced: Here’s why the judge handed down 10 years
It seems, Megan Thee Stallion’s victim impact statement weighed heavily on Judge Herriford, who determined the Canadian rapper required sufficient time in the penitentiary system to rehabilitate his propensity for violence.
In her written statement submitted to the court, Megan Thee Stallion opened up about the emotional and psychological toll that the last three years have taken on her.
She candidly expressed that since the incident involving Tory Lanez, she has not experienced a single day of peace. The trauma from the alleged shooting has left an indelible mark on her life, leading to her assertion that she will never be the same.
“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,” she said.
Megan’s testimony further revealed her deep unease in the presence of Tory Lanez. She explained that the thought of being in the same room as the accused is overwhelming, and she could not bring herself to do so.
This sentiment was made evident by her absence from the recent court hearing. Megan’s absence, she clarified, should not be misconstrued as indifference. Instead, it was a deliberate choice stemming from her discomfort and trauma.
Megan Thee Stallion’s testimony contained a heartfelt appeal to the judge overseeing the trial, urging him to deliver a strong and unambiguous sentence against Tory Lanez.
Lanez’s ‘get-out-of-jail’ card hinges on a slim chance
Days before he was sentenced, Lanez’s defence team advocated for probation, along with his release from jail to enter a residential substance abuse program, a transformational sentence endorsed by fellow rapper Iggy Azalea.
They argued that the evidence that led to his conviction was “questionable at best” and cite potential factors such as alcohol abuse and childhood trauma that may have influenced his actions.
In December 2022, Tory Lanez was found guilty of three felonies, including assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.
Following the reading of the verdict, his father caused a commotion in the courtroom by denouncing the legal system. Lanez has been in jail since December awaiting his sentencing.
During the trial, Megan Thee Stallion testified that Lanez fired a gun at the back of her feet and demanded she dance as she walked away from an SUV they were in after a party at Kylie Jenner’s Hollywood Hills home.
The incident occurred in the summer of 2020.
Despite the impending sentencing, Lanez’s legal team has expressed their intentions to appeal the conviction, challenging the admission of certain evidence during the trial.