Canadian rapper, Daystar Peterson, popularly known as Tory Lanez, has been sentenced to a 10-year prison term on Tuesday for the shooting Megan Thee Stallion in 2020.
The verdict comes after Lanez was found guilty in December 2022 of three felonies connected to the incident, which left Megan Thee Stallion injured in the foot.
Prosecutors had initially pushed for a 13-year prison sentence, emphasizing the gravity of the offense.
In contrast, Lanez’s defense team had advocated for probation and enrollment in a residential drug treatment program aimed at helping him combat his alcoholism.
They argued that the artist had turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism to deal with childhood trauma.
The shooting, which took place in July 2020, occurred as both artists, accompanied by a friend and Lanez’s bodyguard, were departing a gathering at Kylie Jenner’s Hollywood residence.
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During the trial, Megan Thee Stallion, who had been vocal about the emotional toll the shooting had taken on her, testified about the lasting impact of the traumatic event.
She expressed her devastation, revealing that since the shooting, she hadn’t experienced a single day of peace.
Her written statement, read in court, captured the struggle she faced in the aftermath of the incident. She stated, “Slowly but surely, I’m healing and coming back, but I will never be the same.”
Lanez’s attorney, Jose Baez, maintained that the rapper vehemently denies his involvement and continues to assert his innocence.
Baez pointed out that Lanez’s incarceration would have adverse effects on the various non-profit organizations and individuals he financially supports.
Baez advocated for a yearlong residential treatment program to address Lanez’s struggles with alcohol abuse.
During the trial, Lanez’s father, Sonstar Peterson got emotional.
He offered an emotional account of his son’s upbringing, highlighting the profound impact of losing his mother at the age of 11.
Peterson noted that music became an outlet for Tory Lanez to channel his emotions and navigate his pain.
Several others provided statements about Lanez’s personality and philanthropy.
Many more sent letters to Herriford, including the mother of Lanez’s child, who praised his parenting abilities,
Also, Rapper Iggy Azalea had urged the judge, David Herriford to impose a sentence that would be “transformative, not life-destroying.”
