Tory Lanez; Megan Thee Stallion.Photo: Jerod Harris/Getty; Johnny Nunez/Getty
After a nine-day trial,Tory Lanezhas been convicted of shootingMegan Thee Stallionin July 2020.
On Friday afternoon a Los Angeles jury found the Canadian rapper, born Daystar Peterson, guilty of all three charges — assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.
Lanez will be sentenced Jan. 27. The convictions may carry up to 22 years and eight months in prison.
Lanez, 30, showed “no visible reaction” as the verdict came down,the Associated Press reports, adding that he was handcuffed shortly thereafter.
“The jury got it right,” Megan Thee Stallion’s lawyer Alex Spiro tells PEOPLE. “I am thankful there is justice for Meg.”
“Women, especially Black women, are afraid to report crimes like assault and sexual violence because they are too often not believed. This trial, for the second time this month, highlighted the numerous ways that our society must do better for women,” he continued.
“I’d also like to thank the jurors for their time and thoughtful deliberation, and our trial team for their tireless pursuit of the truth. You spent countless hours away from your families during the holiday season preparing this case and finding justice for Ms. Pete. Your sacrifice is appreciated.”
Megan Thee Stallion.BACKGRID
On the second day of the trial, Pete, 27, delivered an emotional testimony and said that she was finding it tough to open up.
“I’m having a really difficult time sitting up here telling my story and having to sit across [from] people who have made up lies about me and having to [sit] across from Tory,” Pete said.
Getting emotional, she added, “I try to be strong. I don’t like to look weak. I don’t want to give them the power that they’ve taken from me for the last three years.”
According to Pete, “He said, ‘Dance bitch,’ and I turned to him and saw him shoot.”
Tory Lanez.backgrid
She also expressed her frustration with how the case played out, explaining that several male musicians took Lanez’s side. Pete also said she felt that the incident changed the trajectory of her career.
Lanez declined to testify in his own defense earlier this week,Rolling Stonereported Wednesday.
During closing arguments on Wednesday, a prosecutor urged the jury to find Lanez guilty of shooting Pete “over nothing but a bruised ego,” according toABC7. Meanwhile, the defense insisted that he didn’t fire the gun at all and it was Harris who pulled the trigger.
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While Harris was not charged in the case, she did testify and said that she did not shoot the “WAP” rapper.
Lanez wascharged in October 2020with one felony count each of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, personal use of a firearm and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle. Hepleaded not guiltyto the charges in November 2020.
The “Luv” singer’s house arrest was terminated earlier this month in order for him to prepare for trial, according toRolling Stone.
source: people.com
