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Rapper Tory Lanez has been sentenced in connection to the shooting trial of Megan Thee Stallion. As The Shade Room previously reported, Lanez was found guilty on three charges related to the incident in December.
Tory Lanez, real name Daystar Peterson, appeared at Los Angeles Superior Court for day two of his sentencing on Tuesday afternoon. The court was dismissed for a break around 3:30 p.m., as per Meghan Cunniff’s reporting.
Additionally, Cuniff also shared feedback she observed from Judge Herriford before the court adjourned.
After reconvening, Judge David Herriford delivered his sentencing to Lanez, giving him ten years in state prison.
According to reporter James Queally, the judge sentenced the rapper to “to 6 years for assault and 4 more on a gun sentencing enhancement.”
After the court hearing ended, Cuniff shared more context about what reportedly take place inside of the courtroom prior to Judge Herriford’s decision.
On Monday, Lanez arrived at the court as his sentencing kicked off. Megan Thee Stallion was reportedly not present. According to journalist Meghann Cunniff, Judge David Herriford was presented with over 70 letters “of support” for the rapper, including one from fellow rapper Iggy Azalea and Lanez’s 6-year-old son.
Azalea reportedly asked the judge to give Lanez a sentence that would be “transformational, not life destroying.”
Additionally, Cunniff added that one letter received by the judge was from a judge chaplain who explained that Lanez started a daily prayer in jail. The prayer has reportedly “lessened the tensions between inmates.”
The chaplain has also reportedly explained that Lanez is a stand-out inmate and “is remorseful” about the shooting incident.
Additionally, Lanez’s father, Sonstar Peterson, apologized for his outburst after his son was convicted of the charges against him in December.
Before adjourning the room for a break, Judge David Herriford reportedly disagreed with the prosecutors’ stance that Lanez’s crime was done with a “high level of callousness.”
After a second court break, Cunniff shared an update regarding matters in the courtroom.
Around 7:30 p.m., Cuniff shared that the rapper’s sentencing would resume on Tuesday.
Additionally, Cuniff summarized sentiments from Megan Thee Stallion.
On Tuesday morning, Cuniff also revealed that day one of sentencing included Judge Herriford sharing his stance on Lanez’s alleged alcoholism in relation to his previous denial of culpability in the shooting.
As The Shade Room previously reported, Lanez’ legal team submitted a sentencing memo on August 1. The memo requested the artist be released from prison, granted probation, and authorized to enter a substance abuse program.
“The interests of justice would best be served if Mr. Peterson is granted probation.”
Additionally, the memo explained that if the allegations against the artist are true, his “psychological,” “physical,” and “childhood trauma” may have played a factor in his alcohol use which ultimately sparked the 2020 shooting offense.
“Assuming the allegations are true, Mr. Peterson’s psychological, physical, and childhood trauma was a factor in the commission of the offense. Likewise, the current offense is connected to Mr. Peterson’s childhood trauma and mental illness, alcohol-use disorder.”
Before the defense team submitted their request, prosecutors advocated for Lanez to be sentenced to 13 years behind bars. At the time, prosecutors reportedly alleged that Lanez spread “misinformation to his large following in an effort to galvanize the public” against Megan Thee Stallion.
Additionally, they explained that Lanez lacked remorse and is “incapable of accepting any responsibility” for his alleged actions related to the shooting.
Prosecutors ultimately explained there are “no assurances that the defendant will not repeat this type of behavior in the future.”
On December 23, 2022, Tory Lanez was found guilty of “discharging a firearm with gross negligence, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle,” as reported by The Shade Room.
At the time, it was reported that he could face a maximum sentence of 22 years in prison. Additionally, it was noted that he could be deported to his native country of Canada.
A video, exclusively obtained by The Shade Room, showed the reaction of Lanez’s family after the verdict was read and the hearing concluded.
As The Shade Room previously reported, Megan Thee Stallion, Kelsey Harris, and Tory Lanez attended a pool party at Kylie Jenner’s residence in the summer of 2020. When the group left the gathering, they entered an SUV together. However, at some point during the evening, the car ride erupted in gunfire.
Megan Thee Stallion ultimately alleged that Tory Lanez fired the weapon at the back of her feet and instructed her to dance. Additionally, Megan sustained injuries from the shooting, including lodged bullet fragments in her feet. The rapper alleged that Lanez offered her $1 million to “keep quiet” about the incident, as per NBC News.
At the time, Megan reflected on the aftermath of the incident in court, something she called “torture.”
“I can’t even be happy. I can’t hold conversations with people for a long time. I don’t feel like I want to be on this earth. I wish he would have just shot and killed me, if I knew I would have to go through this torture.”
However, Tory Lanez ultimately declined to testify on his own behalf during the trial.
