Rapper Tory Lanez has been sentenced in connection to the shooting trial of Megan Thee Stallion. As The Shade Room previously reported, Lanez was found guilty on three charges related to the incident in December.
RELATED: BREAKING: Jurors Find Tory Lanez GUILTY On All Three Charges In Megan Thee Stallion Shooting Trial
Tory Lanez Receives His Sentence From Judge David Herriford
Tory Lanez, real name Daystar Peterson, appeared at Los Angeles Superior Court for day two of his sentencing on Tuesday afternoon. The court was dismissed for a break around 3:30 p.m., as per Meghan Cunniff’s reporting.
Tory Lanez has not yet been sentenced for shooting Megan. We just got out of court and everyone is due back at 1:30 p.m. We'll hear argument from prosecutors (10 minute estimate from Alex Bott) and Lanez's lawyer (20 minute estimate from Jose Baez), then Herriford will rule.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 8, 2023
Additionally, Cuniff also shared feedback she observed from Judge Herriford before the court adjourned.
After reconvening, Judge David Herriford delivered his sentencing to Lanez, giving him ten years in state prison.
According to reporter James Queally, the judge sentenced the rapper to “to 6 years for assault and 4 more on a gun sentencing enhancement.”
This was an unorthodox sentencing hearing to put it mildly, two days largely focused on Lanez’s vast charitable work, which is a factor in mitigation but not a major one. Judge Herriford stepped around it succinctly though — “sometimes good people do bad things.”
— James Queally (@JamesQueallyLAT) August 8, 2023
After the court hearing ended, Cuniff shared more context about what reportedly take place inside of the courtroom prior to Judge Herriford’s decision.
More Detail’s Regarding Day 1 Of Sentencing For Tory Lanez
On Monday, Lanez arrived at the court as his sentencing kicked off. Megan Thee Stallion was reportedly not present. According to journalist Meghann Cunniff, Judge David Herriford was presented with over 70 letters “of support” for the rapper, including one from fellow rapper Iggy Azalea and Lanez’s 6-year-old son.
Lanez has family and supporters in court, but, unlike the trial, his six-year-old son is not one of them. Lanez had him in the courtroom when Megan testified, but I haven’t seen him today. The boy did hand-write a letter to Judge Herriford though, which the judge referenced.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 7, 2023
Azalea reportedly asked the judge to give Lanez a sentence that would be “transformational, not life destroying.”
RELATED: Judge Reveals Iggy Azalea Wrote A Letter On Tory Lanez’s Behalf, She Reacts: ‘I Never Intended To Publicly Comment’
That jailer didn't talk in court, but the chaplain did. (I should be able to get the letters, but maybe not today.)
Judge Herriford said Iggy Azalae's letter asks him to impose a sentence "that is transformational, not life destroying."
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 7, 2023
Additionally, Cunniff added that one letter received by the judge was from a judge chaplain who explained that Lanez started a daily prayer in jail. The prayer has reportedly “lessened the tensions between inmates.”
The chaplain has also reportedly explained that Lanez is a stand-out inmate and “is remorseful” about the shooting incident.
I haven't seen the letters yet, but most interesting to me was Herriford saying a jailer wrote a letter that says Lanez "is remorseful" and has "talked in detail about the event and what he could have done to prevent it."
It's the closest we've ever come to Lanez saying he did.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 7, 2023
Additionally, Lanez’s father, Sonstar Peterson, apologized for his outburst after his son was convicted of the charges against him in December.
Sonstar tearfully apologized to Judge Herriford for his HUGE outburst in the courtroom after the verdict, said he was emotional and doesn't disrespect the judge.
Before all this, Herriford decided the aggravating factors. Yes to use of a gun and Meg as a vulnerable victim.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 7, 2023
Before adjourning the room for a break, Judge David Herriford reportedly disagreed with the prosecutors’ stance that Lanez’s crime was done with a “high level of callousness.”
But Judge Herriford said no to finding the crime was done with a high-level of callousness. How this will affect the sentence is not yet known. We're going to get into that after lunch, after more speakers.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 7, 2023
After a second court break, Cunniff shared an update regarding matters in the courtroom.
We are on a break. We've heard from several others, including the mother of Lanez's son who's known him since 6th grade. She talked a lot about his charitable work. We also heard from the CEO of Unite the People, and another charity leader who talked about Lanez's involvement.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 7, 2023
Around 7:30 p.m., Cuniff shared that the rapper’s sentencing would resume on Tuesday.
Additionally, Cuniff summarized sentiments from Megan Thee Stallion.
RELATED: Here’s What Megan Thee Stallion Said In Her Letter To The Judge Ahead Of Tory Lanez’s Sentence
On Tuesday morning, Cuniff also revealed that day one of sentencing included Judge Herriford sharing his stance on Lanez’s alleged alcoholism in relation to his previous denial of culpability in the shooting.
Also: Judge Herriford said while the shooting obviously involved alcohol, there is no evidence of Lanez being an alcoholic, including in the 76 letters submitted for Lanez. The doctor reports are entirely based on Lanez's own statements.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 8, 2023
"What is he alleging he did as a result of alcohol-use disorder if he didn’t do anything?" Herriford asked. "What did the doctor conclude he did as a result of alcohol use? It's very unclear."
Baez said "yelling" and the "argument that went back and forth in the car."
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 8, 2023
The Rapper’s Legal Team Previously Asked For Him To Be Released From Prison
As The Shade Room previously reported, Lanez’ legal team submitted a sentencing memo on August 1. The memo requested the artist be released from prison, granted probation, and authorized to enter a substance abuse program.
“The interests of justice would best be served if Mr. Peterson is granted probation.”
Additionally, the memo explained that if the allegations against the artist are true, his “psychological,” “physical,” and “childhood trauma” may have played a factor in his alcohol use which ultimately sparked the 2020 shooting offense.
“Assuming the allegations are true, Mr. Peterson’s psychological, physical, and childhood trauma was a factor in the commission of the offense. Likewise, the current offense is connected to Mr. Peterson’s childhood trauma and mental illness, alcohol-use disorder.”
RELATED: Tory Lanez’s Lawyers Cite Rapper’s ‘Childhood Trauma’ & ‘Charitable Activities’ While Seeking Probation Instead Of Prison
Before the defense team submitted their request, prosecutors advocated for Lanez to be sentenced to 13 years behind bars. At the time, prosecutors reportedly alleged that Lanez spread “misinformation to his large following in an effort to galvanize the public” against Megan Thee Stallion.
Additionally, they explained that Lanez lacked remorse and is “incapable of accepting any responsibility” for his alleged actions related to the shooting.
RELATED: Prosecutors Seek 13-Year Sentence For Tory Lanez, Say He Used ‘Campaign Of Misinformation’ To ‘Re-Traumatize’ Megan Thee Stallion
Prosecutors ultimately explained there are “no assurances that the defendant will not repeat this type of behavior in the future.”
More Details Regarding The 2020 Shooting & Tory Lanez’s December Conviction
On December 23, 2022, Tory Lanez was found guilty of “discharging a firearm with gross negligence, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle,” as reported by The Shade Room.
At the time, it was reported that he could face a maximum sentence of 22 years in prison. Additionally, it was noted that he could be deported to his native country of Canada.
A video, exclusively obtained by The Shade Room, showed the reaction of Lanez’s family after the verdict was read and the hearing concluded.
As The Shade Room previously reported, Megan Thee Stallion, Kelsey Harris, and Tory Lanez attended a pool party at Kylie Jenner’s residence in the summer of 2020. When the group left the gathering, they entered an SUV together. However, at some point during the evening, the car ride erupted in gunfire.
Megan Thee Stallion ultimately alleged that Tory Lanez fired the weapon at the back of her feet and instructed her to dance. Additionally, Megan sustained injuries from the shooting, including lodged bullet fragments in her feet. The rapper alleged that Lanez offered her $1 million to “keep quiet” about the incident, as per NBC News.
RELATED: Megan Thee Stallion Tearfully Testifies Tory Lanez Offered Her $1 Million To Keep Quiet About Shooting, Shares Suicidal Thoughts
At the time, Megan reflected on the aftermath of the incident in court, something she called “torture.”
“I can’t even be happy. I can’t hold conversations with people for a long time. I don’t feel like I want to be on this earth. I wish he would have just shot and killed me, if I knew I would have to go through this torture.”
However, Tory Lanez ultimately declined to testify on his own behalf during the trial.
