Tory Lanez escorted out in handcuffs after jury delivers guilty verdict

Los Angeles, California - After roughly one day of deliberations, an LA jury found rapper and singer Tory Lanez guilty on three charges related to a 2020 shooting involving Grammy-winning artist Megan Thee Stallion.

Tory Lanez (r) was found guilty on all three counts related to a shooting involving Megan Thee Stallion in 2020.
Tory Lanez (r) was found guilty on all three counts related to a shooting involving Megan Thee Stallion in 2020.  © Collage: Screenshot/Instagram/theestallion/IMAGO/MediaPunch

A jury made up of seven women and five men found Lanez guilty of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carrying a loaded unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence, per CNN.

Lanez had pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him. Following the verdict, the 30-year-old was handcuffed and removed from the courtroom by bailiffs. According to Law & Crime reporter Meghann Cuniff, Lanez's father shouted: "This is a wicked system!"

Megan Thee Stallion had testified on behalf of the prosecution. During her time on the stand, the Houston native testified under oath that she and Lanez got into a heated argument in an SUV, which led her to exit the car. It was then that Megan Thee Stallion, born Megan Pete, said Lanez shot her.

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Lanez, on the other hand, denied any involvement in the shooting. His lawyers tried to pin the blame on Kelsey Harris, Megan's former assistant who was also in the vehicle.

Harris also took the stand in Lanez's trial, where she reportedly disavowed her testimony from September when she told prosecutors that she witnessed Lanez shoot Megan.

LA County DA applauds Megan Thee Stallion's "courage"

Following the verdict, LA County district attorney George Gascón applauded Megan Thee Stallion's "courage and vulnerability," adding that she "faced unjust and despicable scrutiny that no woman should ever face and you have been an inspiration to others across LA County and the nation."

"Women, especially Black women, are afraid to report crimes like assault and sexual violence because they are too often not believed. This trial," Gascón continued, "highlighted the numerous ways that our society must do better for women."

Megan Thee Stallion's lawyer also reportedly issued a brief statement after the verdict was read: "the jury got it right. I am thankful there is justice for Meg."

Lanez did not take the stand during the trial. The Canadian rapper faces up to 22 years in prison and deportation.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 27.

Cover photo: Collage: Screenshot/Instagram/theestallion/IMAGO/MediaPunch

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