Two of Tory Lanez’s attempts to challenge his conviction in the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion have been denied. Lanez, born Daystar Peterson, was convicted in December 2022 of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, possession of a loaded unregistered firearm, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. The charges stemmed from a July 2020 incident in which Megan Thee Stallion was shot in the feet after leaving a Hollywood Hills party. She later testified that Lanez was the one who pulled the trigger.
According to legal affairs journalist Meghann Cuniff, the California Court of Appeals rejected both habeas petitions filed by Lanez’s attorneys. One petition argued that newly discovered evidence showed his driver should have testified. The other involved a statement from Kelsey Nicole Harris’ security guard that surfaced during the trial. Neither claim will move forward.
The Toronto rapper is serving a 10-year sentence but still has an active main appeal set for oral argument Monday (August 18) in Los Angeles.
Lanez’s legal troubles have also grown inside prison. Court documents obtained by Complex reveal he has been ordered to cover Megan Thee Stallion’s legal fees following an April 9 incident during a court-ordered Zoom deposition. According to the filings, Lanez interrupted the proceedings and made light of the process. Megan’s lawyers later asked the court to determine whether he could be held in contempt. With no response from Lanez’s side, a magistrate judge approved their request for him to pay.
The judge also granted Megan’s legal team’s request for a special master — an independent officer of the court — to oversee Lanez’s future testimony, with the costs billed to him. In addition, a magistrate judge will now supervise all of Lanez’s Zoom calls to prevent further disruptions.
