LOS ANGELES – The California Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a final appeal from rapper Tory Lanez, upholding his 10-year prison sentence for the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. The decision effectively ends the state-level legal challenges in the case, leaving Lanez with the possibility of seeking review from the U.S. Supreme Court.
The state’s high court declined to review a petition challenging the rulings of lower courts, including a November decision by a three-justice panel of California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal. That panel had already dismissed arguments from Lanez’s legal team that errors during the trial warranted a new hearing, finding the evidence presented “more than sufficient” to support the jury’s verdict, KESQ reported.
Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, was convicted in December 2022 on three felony counts: assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carrying a loaded unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. The charges stemmed from an incident in the Hollywood Hills on July 12, 2020, following a gathering at Kylie Jenner’s home. Prosecutors argued that Lanez shot Megan Thee Stallion after an argument, alleging the act was motivated by a “bruised ego,” as stated by Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott during the sentencing hearing.
During the trial, Megan Thee Stallion, whose legal name is Megan Pete, testified that Lanez fired the shots at her feet, and later offered her $1 million in exchange for her silence. She recounted Lanez shouting, “dance, bitch,” before the shooting. She also explained her initial reluctance to cooperate with authorities, stating she “didn’t aim for to be a snitch,” but felt compelled to “defend my name” after seeing misinformation circulating about the incident.
Lanez’s defense team had argued that the trial was marred by errors, specifically challenging the admission of certain testimony and social media evidence. However, the appellate court deemed any such errors to be harmless. At oral arguments, a lawyer for Lanez maintained his client’s innocence, stating, “Daystar Peterson is innocent,” but the court remained unmoved.
The case has drawn significant attention, not only for the high-profile individuals involved but also for the broader conversations it sparked about violence against women and the pressures faced by victims of gun violence.
Lanez is currently serving his sentence at the California Men’s Colony, where he was hospitalized last year after being stabbed multiple times. Reports indicated he sustained 14 stab wounds and suffered collapsed lungs. MSN reported on the rejection of the appeal, confirming the 10-year sentence remains intact.
While the California Supreme Court’s decision closes a chapter in the state’s legal proceedings, Lanez’s legal team has not ruled out further appeals, potentially seeking review by the U.S. Supreme Court. The outcome of any such petition remains uncertain.
