Rapper Tory Lanez is set to appear before the California Court of Appeal on August 18 at 9 a.m. to challenge his 10-year prison sentence in the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion.
Lanez, whose real 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
- Discharging a firearm with gross negligence
The shooting took place in July 2020, after a party at Kylie Jenner’s Hollywood Hills home. According to prosecutors, an argument broke out in an SUV involving Lanez, Megan Thee Stallion (real name Megan Pete), and her then-friend Kelsey Harris.
Lanez allegedly shouted “Dance, b*tch!” before firing at Megan’s feet. She later underwent surgery for her injuries and testified that Lanez offered her $1 million to keep quiet.
Lanez has consistently denied shooting Megan. His legal team, supported by advocacy group Unite the People, argues that the trial was flawed. They claim there is new evidence, including testimony from a bodyguard who says Harris, not Lanez, fired the gun.
They also question how DNA evidence was handled. However, as of July 2025, no new evidence has been formally submitted to the court, according to legal journalist Meghann Cuniff.
The appeal will focus on possible trial errors, including the admission of certain evidence and alleged prosecutorial misconduct. Megan’s attorney, Alex Spiro, called the claims “false narratives,” saying the conviction was based on “overwhelming evidence.”
Lanez, who is recovering from a prison stabbing in May 2025, faces a tough legal path. Appeals are rarely successful and must prove major mistakes in the original trial or uncover clear new evidence of innocence.
Lanez remains in prison and will be eligible for parole in 2029.
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