Rapper Tory Lanez’ sentence for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the feet after “shouting at her to dance” has been delayed following a marathon two-day court session.
Grammy-winning hip hop star Megan Thee Stallion told the court in a statement: “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.”
The WAP singer said she struggled with whether she would appear to give the statement in person, but said she “simply could not bring myself to be in a room with Tory again.”
She asked that her absence not be taken as a sign of indifference, and urged Judge David Herriford to issue a stiff sentence. The decision should now take place on Tuesday after Herriford had attorneys for the two sides argue each factor of his potential sentence.
Megan testified during the trial that Lanez had fired the gun at the back of her feet and shouted for her to dance as she walked away from an SUV in which they had been riding in summer 2020.
Megan, real name Megan Pete, and Tory Lanez, real name Daystar Peterson, got into an argument as they drove away from a party at Kylie Jenner’s Hollywood Hills home.
She told the trial the row started when she mocked Lanez’ musical talents.
Judge Herriford found that Megan was an especially vulnerable victim when she was shot, but that Lanez was not especially cruel or callous in firing at her, legal factors that could influence his decision.
But the judge also said he would consider what prosecutors called attempts by Lanez, through social media posts and in song lyrics, to intimidate Megan and to cast doubt on whether she was shot at all.
Megan, in her statement, cited the absence of remorse, saying Lanez “has blamed the system, blamed the press, and as of late has tried to take advantage of his childhood trauma.”
Prosecutors are asking a judge to hand down a 13-year sentence to the 31-year-old Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson. Lanez was convicted of three felonies: assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.
Lawyers for Lanez said in a sentencing memo that he should get only probation and be released from jail to enter a residential substance abuse program. They plan to appeal his conviction.
