By Maria ShermanAP Music Author
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Three years have handed since hip-hop famous person Megan Thee Stallion was shot a number of instances by rapper Tory Lanez in Los Angeles following a pool occasion on the house of Kylie Jenner.
On Aug. 7, Lanez is scheduled to be sentenced, following his December conviction on three felony expenses. Right here’s what it is advisable know in regards to the case to this point.
Who’re the important thing figures within the case?
Tory Lanez, whose authorized identify is Daystar Peterson, is a Canadian artist who started releasing mixtapes in 2009 and noticed a gradual rise in reputation, transferring on to major-label albums. The 31-year-old’s final album reached the highest 10 on the Billboard 200 chart, and he was a featured artist on Jack Harlow’s No. 2 hit, “WHATS POPPIN.”
Megan Thee Stallion, now 28, was already a serious rising star on the time of the capturing, and her prominence has surged since. The Houston-based rapper born Megan Pete received a Grammy for greatest new artist in 2021, and had No. 1 singles on the Billboard Scorching 100 together with her personal tune “Savage,” that includes Beyoncé, and as a visitor on Cardi B’s “WAP.”
On what expenses was Tory Lanez convicted?
A Los Angeles jury discovered Lanez responsible of three felonies: assault with a semiautomatic firearm; having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a automobile; and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.
What sentence does Tory Lanez face?
Prosecutors are searching for a 13-year jail sentence and Lanez faces deportation to his native Canada.
How lengthy did it take for Tory Lanez to be charged within the capturing?
“I suffered gunshot wounds, because of a criminal offense that was dedicated in opposition to me and carried out with the intention to bodily hurt me,” Megan wrote on Instagram on July 15, 2020. “I’m extremely grateful to be alive and that I’m anticipated to make a full restoration.”
On the time, police introduced that officers responded to gunfire round 4:30 a.m. three days earlier, within the Hollywood Hills. They stated a lady had been handled for a foot harm. Lanez was publicly recognized and arrested on a hid weapons cost, however not initially charged within the capturing.
Almost two weeks later, Megan revealed in an Instagram Dwell video that she had been shot in each ft and needed to get surgical procedure. She named Lanez because the shooter in one other Instagram Dwell video that September:
“Sure … Tory shot me. You shot me and you bought your publicist and your folks going to those blogs mendacity,” Megan stated, including, “I didn’t inform the police nothing as a result of I didn’t need us to get in no extra hassle.”
Lanez was subsequently arrested on expenses of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a automobile in early October of that yr.
How did Tory Lanez reply to the allegations and subsequent expenses?
The day after Megan named him because the shooter, Lanez launched his “Daystar” album with a monitor that includes lyrics that gave the impression to be geared toward Megan: “How the f— you get shot in your foot / don’t hit no bones or tendons.”
As soon as arrested, he posted bail at $190,000 and was ordered to give up all weapons and never contact Megan. He pleaded not responsible in November 2020 however violated the protecting order after showing with rapper DaBaby throughout a Rolling Loud Miami competition set in July 2021, moments after Megan acquired off stage. His bail was elevated to $250,000.
In April 2022, he was briefly jailed for sending tweets that appeared to focus on her, rising his bail to $350,000. And in October 2022, Lanez was positioned on home arrest till the case went to trial after allegedly attacking one other musician, August Alsina, at a live performance, violating his bail.
What did the testimony at trial reveal?
In December 2022, Megan testified in entrance of Lanez, stating that she left the occasion at Jenner’s home in an SUV with Lanez, his bodyguard, and her good friend and assistant Kelsey Harris. She stated she had an intimate relationship with Lanez, to the chagrin of Harris, who had a “crush” on the rapper. Harris and Megan acquired into an argument, which escalated and ultimately led to Lanez and Megan disparaging one another’s careers. Megan exited the automobile, she stated, at which level Lanez started capturing at her ft and yelled, “Dance b—–!”
Lanez’s protection legal professional George Mgdesyan stated in his opening assertion that there was no manner Megan would have been capable of establish the shooter as a result of they have been behind her. Harris testified that Lanez didn’t shoot Megan, however prosecutors introduced an audio recording wherein Harris was heard saying, “He was capturing the gun.” After the incident, Harris texted Megan’s supervisor, “Assist. Tory shot meg. 911.” On the stand, Harris stated she “wasn’t truthful” within the recording.
Prosecutor Alexander Bott argued that Megan had no purpose to lie about home violence and topic herself to on-line vitriol. Mgdesyan argued that Harris was the shooter and Lanez had tried to cease the altercation. He contended Megan was mendacity as a result of the concept that Lanez shot her was much less damaging to her public picture than the concept that her good friend would have shot her throughout an argument over a person.
Why has Megan Thee Stallion acquired on-line hate?
For the reason that capturing, Megan has been the goal of widespread misinformation and vitriol unfold via social media and infected with every growth. Loads of the abuse, consultants say, may be attributed to misogynoir — a selected sort of misogyny skilled by Black girls.
A number of the hate was exacerbated by trade friends: Rappers Drake and 21 Savage focused Megan by identify in lyrics making an attempt to discredit her allegations. 50 Cent posted memes mocking her, likening the rapper to actor Jussie Smollett, who was convicted in 2021 for mendacity to police a few racist, homophobic assault.
Others have come to her protection — #MeToo founder Tarana Burke and U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters have additionally spoken out about violence in opposition to Black girls and have been among the many signers of an open letter supporting Megan. The star herself wrote an op-ed within the New York Occasions calling for the safety of Black girls.
What has Tory Lanez carried out since his conviction?
As quickly as Lanez’s conviction was learn in court docket final December, he was taken into custody. Within the courtroom, Lanez’s father denounced the “depraved system” that led to his conviction.
Sentencing was delayed as Lanez’s attorneys filed a movement for a brand new trial, arguing that proof was wrongly admitted. That request was denied in Might 2023. Such motions instantly following a conviction are widespread and infrequently succeed.
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AP Leisure Author Andrew Dalton contributed reporting. Observe AP Music Author Maria Sherman: https://twitter.com/mariasherm
