LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� In a courtroom that turned chaotic after a trial that seethed with tension, a Los Angeles jury on Friday found rapper Tory Lanez guilty of three felonies in the 2020 shooting of hip-hop star . The attack left her wounded with bullet fragments in her feet and Lanez' conviction could send him to prison for more than 20 years.
Lanez, who was put in handcuffs and led to jail while wearing a powder pink coat with matching pants, showed no visible reaction as the verdict was read.
But moments later, after the jury was escorted out, his father, Sonstar Peterson, leapt up and shouted 鈥淭his wicked system stands judged before God almighty!鈥� as deputies closed in on him.
Peterson then pointed to the two prosecutors and yelled 鈥淵ou two are evil, wicked people. You know exactly what you did.鈥�
With considerable effort, deputies wrestled him from the courtroom, where he shouted in the hallway.
The jury of seven women and five men deliberated since Thursday before convicting the 30-year-old Canadian rapper, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.
Jurors also agreed that there were aggravating factors in the attack, meaning Lanez could face up to 22 years in prison and deportation when is is sentenced on Jan 25.
Three young children, including Lanez' son, sat in the front row of the courtroom while the verdict was read. A young girl cried and was hugged by Lanez's stepmother, who was also tearful before she began shouting along with her husband.
Others in the audience shouted agreement, and one woman shouted 鈥渨e love you Tory鈥� as he was led away.
Supporters of Megan and Lanez gathered outside the courthouse for most of the eight-day trial and crowded the courtroom and the hallway. The scene was tense at times, but remained mostly peaceful until the verdict was read.
Megan Thee Stallion, whose legal name is Megan Pete, at the back of her feet and shouted for her to dance as she walked away from an SUV in which they had been riding in the Hollywood Hills in the summer of 2020. She said the two had gotten into a dispute that became especially heated when she started insulting his music.
She needed surgery to remove bullet fragments from her feet.
After the verdict, her lawyer, Alex Spiro said 鈥渢he jury got it right鈥� and said he was 鈥渢hankful there is justice for Meg.鈥�
Lanez鈥� lawyer George Mgdesyan said they were 鈥渟hocked by the verdict.鈥�
鈥淭here was not sufficient evidence to convict Mr. Peterson,鈥� Mgdesyan said in a statement. 鈥淲e believe this case was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt. We will be exploring all options including an appeal.鈥�
The shooting set off a storm of cultural issues and arguments that peaked during the trial, including the , , , and .
In , prosecutors emphasized the courage it took for Megan come forward and the vitriol the 27-year-old faced for it. They said she had no incentive to tell anything but the truth.
After the verdict, District Attorney George Gasc贸n praised her.
鈥淵ou showed incredible courage and vulnerability with your testimony despite repeated and grotesque attacks that you did not deserve," Gasc贸n said in a statement. "You faced unjust and despicable scrutiny that no woman should ever face."
Lanez鈥� lawyer alleged in his closing argument that the shots were actually fired by Megan鈥檚 then-best friend Kelsey Harris in a jealous fight over Lanez, who tried to stop the shooting. The attorney, George Mgdesyan, argued Megan created a more sympathetic narrative by pinning the shooting on Lanez.
鈥淢egan Pete is a liar. She lied about everything in this case from the beginning,鈥� Mgdesyan said. 鈥淪he lied under oath here.鈥�
and previously identified Lanez as the one holding the gun. Her attorney, in an email, declined to comment on her involvement.
Lanez began releasing mixtapes in 2009 and saw a steady rise in popularity, moving on to major-label albums. His last two reached the top 10 on Billboard鈥檚 charts.
Megan Thee Stallion was already a major rising star at the time of the shooting, and her prominence has surged since.
She won a Grammy for best new artist in 2021, and had No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 with her own song 鈥淪avage,鈥� featuring Beyonc茅, and as a guest on Cardi B鈥檚 鈥淲AP.鈥�
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Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press
