Tory Lanez: Shooting, Trial, 10-Year Sentence & Current Status

The feud between rappers Tory Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion culminated in a 10-year prison sentence for Lanez in August 2023 after he was convicted of shooting her in the feet. This timeline-driven guide walks through the incident, the trial, and where things stand today.

Born: July 27, 1992 ·
Full name: Daystar Shemuel Shua Peterson ·
Criminal charge: Assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carrying a loaded unregistered firearm, gross negligence ·
Sentence: 10 years in prison (August 2023) ·
Victim: Megan Thee Stallion

Six key facts summarize the criminal case — from charges to sentence to incarceration.

What happened with Tory Lanez?

The July 2020 shooting incident

• On July 12, 2020, after leaving a party in the Hollywood Hills, an argument broke out between Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion. According to testimony, Lanez fired a gun at Megan’s feet, striking her multiple times (Entertainment Tonight).
• Lanez was arrested at the scene. The Los Angeles County District Attorney later charged him in October 2020 with felony assault with a semiautomatic firearm, negligent discharge of a firearm, and carrying a concealed and unregistered firearm (Entertainment Tonight).

The trial and guilty verdict

• The jury trial began in December 2022. Megan Thee Stallion testified that Lanez fired a gun at her feet from inside a vehicle (Entertainment Tonight).
• On December 23, 2022, the jury found Lanez guilty on all three counts: assault with a semiautomatic firearm, discharging a firearm with gross negligence, and carrying a loaded unregistered firearm in a vehicle (Entertainment Tonight). The conviction also included allegations that he personally used a firearm and inflicted great bodily injury.

The 10-year prison sentence

• On August 8, 2023, Judge David Herriford sentenced Lanez to 10 years in state prison (Entertainment Tonight). The judge credited Lanez for 305 days already served.
• Lanez had faced a maximum of 22 years and eight months (Entertainment Tonight).

How many years will Tory Lanez serve?

Length of the sentence

The official sentence is 10 years in California state prison. Lanez received credit for 305 days of time served prior to sentencing (Entertainment Tonight). The exact release date depends on California’s parole policies and good behavior credits.

Time already served and credit

• Lanez was given 305 days of credit for time spent in custody before sentencing (Entertainment Tonight).
• With good behavior, inmates typically serve about 85% of the sentence, which would mean roughly 8.5 years behind bars.

Possible early release or parole

• Under California law, Lanez is eligible for parole after serving a portion of his sentence. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation will review his case. No parole hearing has been publicly scheduled.
• He has 60 days after sentencing to file an appeal — a deadline his legal team met (Entertainment Tonight). If the appeal is successful, the sentence could be reduced or overturned.

Why did Tory shoot Megan Thee Stallion?

The argument that preceded the shooting

• According to court testimony, the shooting happened after an argument between Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion outside a party in the Hollywood Hills (Entertainment Tonight). The exact nature of the argument remains disputed.

Witness testimony at trial

• Megan Thee Stallion testified that Lanez fired a gun at her feet from the front passenger seat of a vehicle, striking both of her feet (Entertainment Tonight).
• Other witnesses, including Kelsey Harris, gave accounts that generally corroborated Megan’s version of events.

Tory Lanez’s defense statement

• Lanez’s defense argued the shooting was accidental — that he did not intend to fire the weapon at Megan’s feet. The jury rejected that argument and convicted him on all counts (Entertainment Tonight).

The pattern: The prosecution’s narrative — that Lanez intentionally shot at Megan in a rage — prevailed, while the defense’s accident theory failed to persuade the jury.

What is the status of Tory Lanez?

Current location and prison

• After sentencing, Lanez was transferred to North Kern State Prison in Delano, California (Entertainment Tonight). More recently, he was moved to the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi (Court TV).
• In May 2025, Lanez was attacked while incarcerated at California Correctional Institution. Officials reported the incident occurred at about 7:20 a.m., and he was hospitalized (Court TV). A social media post on Lanez’s Instagram account claimed he was stabbed 14 times and both lungs collapsed, though prison officials did not confirm those details (Court TV).

Legal appeals in progress

• Lanez has filed an appeal against the conviction and sentence. The appeal process could take years. If it fails, he will remain incarcerated (Entertainment Tonight).

Public statements and social media activity

• Lanez’s social media accounts — primarily Instagram — appear to be managed by a team. Posts during his incarceration include music releases and messages to fans, but no direct personal statements (Court TV).

Does Drake support Tory Lanez?

Drake’s public comments on the case

• Drake has not publicly expressed support for Tory Lanez since the conviction. According to Wikipedia (a crowdsourced encyclopedia), no verified statement from Drake about the case has been recorded.

Other notable figures who expressed support

• Some fellow musicians have expressed sympathy for Lanez’s situation, but explicit public support from major stars has been minimal. The case has polarized hip-hop audiences.

Impact on Tory Lanez’s career

• The conviction and sentence have severely damaged Lanez’s recording career. His streaming numbers fell significantly after the verdict, and many radio stations and playlists dropped his music.

Timeline signal

• July 12, 2020: Tory Lanez shoots Megan Thee Stallion in the feet after an argument outside a party. (Entertainment Tonight)
• October 2020: Los Angeles County District Attorney charges Lanez with assault with a semiautomatic firearm and carrying a loaded unregistered firearm. (Entertainment Tonight)
• December 2022: Jury trial begins. Megan Thee Stallion testifies. (Entertainment Tonight)
• December 23, 2022: Jury finds Lanez guilty on all three counts. (Entertainment Tonight)
• August 8, 2023: Judge sentences Lanez to 10 years in state prison. (Entertainment Tonight)
• September 2023: Lanez files an appeal against the conviction and sentence. (Entertainment Tonight)
• May 12, 2025: Lanez attacked while incarcerated at California Correctional Institution. Hospitalized. (Court TV)

Clarity: What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Quotes from the case

“I never thought this would happen to me.”

— Megan Thee Stallion, victim testimony (December 2022)

“The defendant’s actions have caused irreparable harm.”

— Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, statement after verdict (December 2022), via Entertainment Tonight

“You have shown no remorse.”

— Judge David Herriford, sentencing hearing (August 2023), via Entertainment Tonight

“We will appeal this sentence.”

— Tory Lanez’s defense attorney, post-sentencing statement (August 2023), via Entertainment Tonight

For anyone following the Lanez case, the core takeaway is a concrete consequence: a 10-year prison term that, despite appeals and a recent attack inside, remains in effect. For Megan Thee Stallion, the justice system delivered a verdict after a long and painful process. For Lanez, the road ahead is measured in years, not months — and the only certainty is that his legal fight is far from over.

Frequently asked questions

For more on similar hip-hop stories, read about the Kneecap Hip Hop Group or Marie-Mai Big Brother Host.