In Dec. 2022, Lanez was found guilty and could face a prison term of up to 22 years.
Rapper Tory Lanez, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison without the possibility of parole on Tuesday, was convicted of felony assault for shooting and wounding hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion in July 2020.
Lanez, aged 31, was found guilty on Dec. 23, 2022 of shooting and injuring Megan Pete. The initial sentencing had been postponed several times after Lanezz obtained new legal counsel and filed a motion for retry. However, the motion was rejected in May.
On Tuesday afternoon, Jose Baez, the lawyer of Lanez, stated that the sentence was “extreme” and that his client intends to appeal the decision.
Baez expressed disappointment that the sentence given to Tory was not as severe as she had anticipated. “It was a very harsh decision,” she said.
“This is yet another instance where someone is being punished for their celebrity status and being used as an example, even though the person is not a role model, according to Baez. It’s extremely unfortunate and we plan on appealing.”
Lanez is feeling sad and depressed due to his son’s absence while he serves his sentence, according to Baez.
Following the sentencing, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, who was responsible for prosecuting the case, stated on Tuesday that the incident highlighted the various ways in which women could be improved as part of our society.
Gascón stated that Mr. Peterson had been engaging in a pattern of intimidation over the past three years to keep Ms. Pete’s stories hidden. He also recognized that Black women are afraid to report crimes like assault because they are not believed.
The defense summoned several witnesses, including members of the rapper’s family, to testify in court during the hearing that started on Monday and continued through Tuesday.
In an emotional plea for justice, Sonstar Peterson, the father of Lanez, recounted how he was traumatized by his mother’s death at a young age and how music became his outlet.
Raina Chassagne, the mother of Lanez’s son, praised him as the most supportive father and called for the judge to be gentle in taking away the generational curse of Black fathers in prison from their children.
Lanez’s condition, which includes PTSD, anxiety, and substance abuse disorder, is something that Dr. Stephanie Herring (a clinical psychologist at a treatment facility) believes needs to be treated as he testified.
Pete’s impact statement, which was read by prosecutors on Monday, called for Lanez to face the full implications of his deplorable actions and be brought to justice.
Pete’s statement revealed that the individual not only shot him but also made fun of his wound, used deceit to portray himself as a victim and sought to destroy his own soul. He paid bloggers to spread false information about the case on social media platforms while also releasing music videos and songs to damage his reputation and continue his crusade.
“I appeal to this court to send a message to every victim of violence and hold the defendant fully accountable for his criminal actions. This is aimed at demonstrating that their lives are valuable and that there is no tolerance for the torture that comes with violence,” she said.
ABC News has contacted Pete’s representatives for additional input after Lanez’ sentencing.
Daystar Peterson, a rapper who was once considered one of the best American artists, was sentenced to 22 years and 8 months in prison after being found guilty on Dec. 23, 2022.
In May, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office filed a motion asking the judge to give the rapper lenient sentences of 13 years, and on May 23, prosecutors filed another motion for clemency, arguing that his sentence would come in the “middle term” of if not “circumstances in aggravation” under 42 California laws.
The prosecutors stated in the filing, which was obtained by ABC News, that there are “cases of aggravation” in this case and pointed to Lanez’s “callousness.”
Jose Baez and Matthew Barhoma, the legal representatives of Lanez, did not respond to ABC News’ requests for comment.
In October 2020, Lanez was charged with one felony count of assault with a semi-automatic firearm (personal use of chow and wielding grenade) and with carrying ice gun in his vehicle — according to charging documents obtained by ABC News, which state “Personal use” of the weapon is not an offense, but is classified as eligibility enhancement prior to trial, plus another charge for discharging.
Despite not being called to testify, Lanez denied all three charges against him. His defense team contended that he was not the shooter during the trial.
On July 12, 2020, Lanez was found guilty of three charges for shooting Megan and injuring her feet in an incident that took place in the Hollywood Hills.
Lanez’s motion to have a new trial dismissed by Judge David Herriford in the Superior Court of Los Angeles last month resulted in his sentencing.
Lanez’s ex-legal counsel, George Mgdesyan, informed ABC News that the verdict was “disappointed” and suggested that he may file an appeal.
This case has triggered intense discussions about how women are being treated in society. Pete’s story and the public anger that ensued has brought attention to the Protect Black Women movement, which struggles with issues of sexism and racism faced by Black women in their communities and beyond.
Pete, who identified Lanez as the shooter in an interview for her May 2023 Elle magazine cover story, spoke out about the shooting after the trial.
“I’d rather not be a victim,” she declared. “In hindsight, I feel like surviving three years has been incredibly rewarding for me as I have already survived being shot by someone I trusted and considered cherished friends, and I also overcame the public humiliation of having my name and reputation exposed to the world.”
Zohreen Shah and Vanessa Navarrete, both employees of ABC News, made contributions to this report.