Canadian rapper Tory Lanez has been handed a 10-year prison sentence for shooting fellow artist Megan Thee Stallion.
During a dispute after a party in 2020, Tory Lanez shot Grammy-winning artist Megan Thee Stallion in the feet.
He was found guilty on three gun-related charges in December and has been held in jail since.
The incident, which caused a division within the music industry, resulted in Megan Thee Stallion requiring surgery to extract bullet fragments from her foot.
The LA District Attorney, George Gascón, said after the verdict that her fame “has brought an important spotlight on the issue of violence against women”.
The shooting took place while they were returning from a pool party held at reality star Kylie Jenner’s residence in Hollywood.
Prosecutors had requested a 13-year jail term from the judge, asserting that Lanez, aged 31, should face a substantial sentence for shooting a “defenseless victim” on a peaceful residential road. They also mentioned his efforts to “shame and cause further trauma” to her following the incident.
Using his real name Daystar Peterson, Lanez has achieved seven albums that reached the top 10 on the US charts within the last seven years.
He was found guilty of three serious crimes: using a semi-automatic firearm to assault someone, having a loaded and unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and negligently discharging a firearm.
His attorneys contended that he should receive probation and participate in a drug treatment program. It remains uncertain if Lanez could potentially be deported to Canada.
According to Jose Baez, Lanez’s lawyer, his client intends to appeal the verdict because of “significant issues” observed during the trial.
Outside court on Tuesday, he cited a lack of DNA evidence against Lanez in relation to the shooting, adding that the rapper’s DNA was not found on the gun used. Mr Baez added that he believed Lanez did not receive a fair trial.
