Rapper Tory Lanez Denied Bail; Begins Decade-Long Prison Term for Shooting Megan Thee Stallion

Tory Lanez, the rapper convicted of shooting Megan Thee Stallion, has commenced his ten-year prison sentence at North Kern State Prison in Delano, California. Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, arrived at the facility on Tuesday, as per reports. North Kern State Prison is situated 145 miles north of Los Angeles.

This development follows the denial of a bail motion for Lanez, which was issued by Judge David Herriford during a September 14 hearing in Los Angeles. Unite the People CEO and co-founder Ceasar McDowell confirmed this decision, noting that the nonprofit organization is representing Lanez in his appeal of the verdict.

In a recent motion filed by Unite the People attorney Crystal Morgan, Lanez’s legal team requested that Herriford pause his prison sentence during the appeal process, allowing him to reside in the Los Angeles area with his wife and six-year-old son. However, Herriford cited the violent nature of Peterson’s conviction, his prior violations of court orders, and the risk of deportation as a noncitizen (Lanez is originally from Canada) in denying the motion.

Morgan stated that Lanez’s legal team remains committed to fighting for his rights and may consider filing a similar bail motion in the appellate court. She added, “The denial of the appeal bond is undoubtedly disappointing, but it does not deter us from our mission.”
In December, Lanez was found guilty of three felonies related to the shooting incident involving Megan Thee Stallion. He was convicted of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, possessing a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence, which resulted in Megan Thee Stallion sustaining injuries from bullet fragments.

Lanez’s sentencing concluded a high-profile trial that garnered significant attention in the hip-hop community. The case raised issues such as the reluctance of Black victims to cooperate with law enforcement, gender dynamics in hip-hop, online toxicity, the protection of Black women, and the consequences of misogyny, a specific form of misogyny experienced by Black women.

In an Instagram post two days after his sentencing, Lanez addressed his fanbase and maintained his innocence, stating, “I have always maintained my innocence, and I always will.” He expressed that he took responsibility for verbal and intimate interactions but did not apologize for the charges he believes he was wrongfully convicted of. Lanez conveyed his determination to overcome adversity in his life, asserting that he has consistently emerged victorious in challenging situations.

Image credits; flickr