Tory Lanez was found guilty, on Dec. 23, of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the July 2020 incident after a gathering in the Hollywood Hills. He is facing 22 years and has a sentencing hearing scheduled for Feb. 28.
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SOHH covered the trial from the first day, Dec. 5-23, 2022, and continues its coverage through the sentencing. Here’s everything that’s transpired since day one.
Tory Lanez Receives A New Sentencing Date
Tory Lanez originally had a sentencing hearing scheduled for Feb. 28 at a Los Angeles court. However, the sentencing is now set for April 10.
Amid the shuffling of the new sentencing date, the gag order Lanez was still honoring since the start of the trial, was recently dropped. Lanez hasn’t made any public statements on the trial but in light of the dropped gag order, it seems to be a possibility.
Tory Lanez’s New Defense Team Amid New Sentencing Date
Post Trial: Court Hearing With New Defense Team
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Herriford on Jan. 10 changed Lanez’s sentencing to Feb. 28 after Lanez said he wanted to change his legal team to attorneys, David Kenner and Matthew Barhoma.
Kenner is known as the “superlawyer” who helped Snoop Dogg beat his 1993 murder case and also known for representing Suge Knight. Kenner, during the Jan. 10 hearing, told Judge David Herriford he was waiting for transcripts from the December trial so he could prepare a motion for a new trial.
Lanez was originally represented by attorney George Mgdesyan who said he wasn’t leaving Lanez “on bad terms” but instead finding an attorney, Kenner, who could handle “the appeal.”
“I don’t do appeals, so we had to get somebody on board to handle the appeal,” said Mgdesyan.
Tory Lanez Guilty Verdict: Two Weeks And Seven Hours Of Deliberation Later
Day 14: Tory Lanez Is Found ‘Guilty’ On All Three Counts
Tory Lanez was found guilty of shooting Megan Thee Stallion during the July 2020 incident following a gathering at Kylie Jenner’s house in the Hollywood Hills. Lanez is guilty of one count of assault with an automatic firearm and found the allegations true that he caused great bodily injury and used a firearm.
The Canadian artist was also convicted of carrying an unregistered loaded firearm in a vehicle and one count of discharge of a firearm with gross negligence. Lanez was immediately taken into custody after the verdict.
Lanez has a sentencing hearing on Jan. 27 and is facing 22 years and eight months.
Day 13: Jury Starts Deliberation
The jury entered deliberations. At 3:50 p.m., asked for “a better definition of the word ‘willfully’ and ‘on purpose.” But agreed to wait until Dec. 23 for a written response from the court.
They deliberated for five hours before leaving at 4 p.m. and expected to return at 9 a.m. on Dec. 23.
Day 12: The Missing Witness & Closing Arguments
As social media speculated the whereabouts of Justin Edison, Megan’s bodyguard, the prosecution also mentioned they were dealing with a missing witness. Though Edison was never called by name in the court, it was speculated he was the witness who went missing right before he was scheduled to appear in court.
“Megan is a liar,” George Mgdesyan, Lanez’s defense lawyer, said during closing statements. Mgdesyan pointed out Megan lied on social media and again when asked about her intimate relationship with Lanez in the now-famed Gayle King interview.
Day 11: Defense Said LAPD Detective Botch The Investigation
Tory Lanez’s defense attorney, George Mdgesyan, said LAPD’s Ryan Stogner was the investigating officer who interviewed Megan after the shooting “botched” the investigation.
According to the defense, Stogner failed to collect DNA evidence and GSR from Harris. Stogner also interviewed Megan in 2020 and 2021, but no interviews were recorded.
The defense also pointed out that Stogner didn’t ask certain questions he was in a position to ask during his investigation.
Day 10: EJ Knew It Was Time To Go
Megan Thee Stallion’s stylist, EJ King was also in attendance at Kylie Jenner’s residence where the drama began. He told jurors he knew it was “time to leave” when the situation got tense at Jenner’s house.
Body camera footage showed a bleeding Megan Thee Stallion hobbling onto an ambulance.
Day 9: Kelsey Harris Recorded Interview Played
A 90-minute interview with the Los Angeles Superior Court district attorneys, recorded in September 2022, was played for the jury.
“Tory shot Megan,” ex-bestie and former assistant of Kelsey Harris, told prosecution lawyers during the interview.
Day 8: Kelsey Continues To Plea Fifth On Second Day in Court
Stepping into a second day of cross-examination, Harris continued to plead the fifth.
“We were like sisters,” she said when the defense asked her to describe her relationship with Megan Thee Stallion. “We lived together.”
Lanez’s defense also asked her if she shot Megan, to which she replied with “Absolutely, not.”
Day 7: Ex-Bestie, Kelsey Harris “Can’t Remember”
Megan Thee Stallion’s ex-best friend, Kelsey Harris, offered a limited testimony when asked about the 2020 shooting involving Tory Lanez.
“I don’t remember,” was her answer to most questions.
While on the stand, Lanez’s defense team looked surprised when Harris asserted her fifth amendment and was given “use immunity” — appearing to have made a deal with the District Attorney.
Day 6: Megan Cries, ‘I Wish He Would Have Shot Me Dead’
Megan Thee Stallion made her first appearance at the Los Angeles Superior court, where she was greeted by fans wearing “I Stand With Megan” t-shirts and holding “We Stand With Megan” banners.
When Megan took the stand, through tears, she told jurors, “I wish he would have shot me dead.”
Megan said in her testimony, that while seated in the front row of the vehicle, she “looked back and saw Tory with the gun.”
Lanez was also visibly annoyed when Megan responded to questions about his stature as a recording artist. And when she was asked, “Who was the more relevant artist” at the time of the shooting, Megan said, “I was.”
Tory looked on and shook his head.
Day 5: Prosecution Confirms Megan Thee Stallion & Tory Lanez’s Sexual Relationship
During explosive day five opening statements, the prosecution confirmed that Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez had a sexual relationship. Tory Lanez’s defense argued he was too short to shoot.
Day 4: Jury Selected As The Case Heats Up
In the latest update on the ongoing case, it appears jury selection has officially been completed, according to Rolling Stone’s senior reporter, Nancy Dillon.
Day 3: Stogner Refused As Witness
Officer Ryan Stogner, who investigated the Canadian rapper’s case, was terminated from the LAPD for domestic violence, causing prosecutors to refuse him as a witness. In addition, the “In For It” rapper took to Twitter to proclaim his innocence.
He posted a powerful message stating weapons formed against him “shall not prosper.” Tory also warned fans that it would be his last tweet.
Day 2: Tory Lanez Hit With Another Charge
During the second day of trial, Tory Lanez was hit with a third felony charge for the discharge of a firearm with extreme negligence. It was also reported that Kylie Jenner and her mother, Kris Jenner’s boyfriend, Corey Gamble, may be used as defense witnesses since the shooting incident occurred shortly after Kylie’s pool party.
Day 1: Trial Day
The pressure is on as Megan Thee Stallion’s assault trial against Tory Lanez, real name Daystaar Shemuel Shua Peterson, commences at the Los Angeles Superior Court (Dec. 5). After jury selection began last week, Judge David Herriford was assigned to the highly-anticipated case.
The Toronto artist has recently arrived at the courtroom but will not make any statements. Lanez walked in dressed in a khaki-brown plaid suit. He was also surrounded by a large support system, which appeared to be his family. Shortly after, his attorneys walked in as he patiently awaited for the trial to begin.
Follow the trial here as SOHH will provide non-stop updates as the case unravels.
Timeline Of Events Leading To The Trial
As the trial progresses, fans can get a timeline of Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez’s relationship before and after the alleged shooting. The rappers were also rumored to be lovers beforehand.
Here’s a brief timeline of Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez’s rocky relationship:
March 2022 – “Substantial Evidence”
The pressure mounted on Tory Lanez after the DA’s office announced they had “substantial evidence” that supports Megan’s claims. Meanwhile, Megan said she was facing death threats.
June 2021 – Twitter Fingers
Tensions initially stirred up when Stallion publicly lashed out at DaBaby. She questioned his loyalty and accused him of pretending to be on her side in the publicized fallout between herself and Tory Lanez.
July 2021 – Violation Of Judge’s Order
Hip-hop crooner Tory Lanez landed more legal trouble after performing at Rolling Loud alongside DaBaby. The “In For It” rapper violated a judge’s order to stay 100 yards away from the Houston rapper since the performance took place moments after Meg took the stage.
August 2021 – Tory Lanez Banned
Lanez appeared in an L.A. courtroom on August 23 to address him for breaking Meg’s protection order against him. A judge ruled that the rapper violated the Traumazine artist’s restraining order by performing alongside DaBaby at Rolling Loud Miami while Meg was backstage.
The Toronto rapper, who made an in-person appearance in court, was later banned from any events Meg The Stallion would be present. The judge warned that Tory would be taken into custody if he didn’t comply with the new mandate or violated the protection order again.
Dec 2021 – “Dance B*tch!”
New information regarding the shooting case between Tory Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion emerged when an officer testified that Tory Lanez told Megan to dance before shooting her. The LAPD officer said Tory Lanez shouted, “Dance bitch, dance!” while firing gunshots at the ground near Megan Thee Stallion’s feet.
He also testified that Megan said Tory apologized for shooting her and offered her money to keep quiet.
Jan 2020 – Partying + Social Distancing
At the beginning of the year, rap crooner Tory Lanez lived it up to the fullest. The hip-hop entertainer shared an epic shot of himself partying alongside his fellow music star. Also, shortly after the pandemic, Tory and the Houston Hottie weren’t taking social distancing seriously.
The rap heavyweights had social media’s full attention after linking up for random “friendship goals” moments.
June 2020 – Scandalous Nights
Megan unloaded a batch of new content. Notably, she shared a pic of herself rocking matching yellow Savage X Fenty gear. The photo received praise and major appreciation from rap star Tory Lanez and Power actress La La Anthony.
July 2020 – The Shooting Incident
That following month, Canadian hip-hop star Tory Lanez was reportedly the man responsible for nearly killing Megan Thee Stallion. New reports claim the rap crooner pulled the trigger inside an SUV with his publicized hip-hop pal.
December 2020 – “Protect Black Women”
Later that year, the “Savage” artist wasn’t staying silent. The hip-hop star spoke out on the importance of protecting Black women. Meg also shared that she is not afraid of getting criticized or victim-blamed for the near-death shooting allegedly at the hands of her estranged friend Tory Lanez.
Jury Selected For Lanez-Megan Thee Stallion Shooting Case
Tory Lanez is now set to go on trial next week for the alleged shooting of Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion. This week, a hearing took place to select the jury in preparation for the upcoming trial.
Additional reporting by Nicole Bartley
