Tory Lanez sentenced to 10 years in prison for Megan Thee Stallion shooting

Tory Lanez has just been sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion, the GRAMMY-winning artist, in the foot during an argument while leaving a party in July 2020.

In December, the Canadian rapper was found guilty on three gun related charges: assault with a semi-automatic firearm; having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle; and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. He has remained in custody since his conviction.

The prosecution initially asked the judge for a 13 year prison sentence due to the fact the shooting happened unprovoked and on a residential street — also citing Tory Lanez’s “campaign to humiliate and re-traumatise” Megan following the attack as another reason to suggest harsher sentencing.

Read this next: Megan Thee Stallion felt "suicidal" after alleged Tory Lanez shooting, court hears

Megan’s statement to the court read “Since I was viciously shot by the defendant [Lanez], I have not experienced a single day of peace. Slowly but surely, I'm healing and coming back, but I will never be the same."

The jury heard that Lanez fired bullets at the Texas-born rapper while shouting at her to “dance” as she walked out of the car they were travelling in. Lanez’s lawyers tried to suggest that Kelsey Harris - a friend who was in the vehicle at the time - shot her friend out of jealousy, which Megan denied.

Edward Welbourn, a prosecutor, said to the court that "This was a heinous act of violence against a defenceless woman and a multi-year campaign of harassment”

"Megan got lucky that night,” he continued “ but her luck shouldn't negate [Lanez's] culpability... her luck is not his luck.”

When asked why Megan was not present during the trial, Welbourn said “She thinks about this case every single day. She was too intimidated and too scared to be in the same courtroom as the defendant."

Read this next: Tory Lanez found guilty of shooting Megan Thee Stallion

Megan had, however, testified in court in December, describing the physical and mental ordeal that came as a result of the shooting. While her injuries had resulted in the Houston-born rapper requiring surgery to remove bullet fragments, and a "chronic pain in her foot" — she also relayed that having to relive in the event in the public eye "had left her depressed and suicidal."

The incident sparked heated debates over social media regarding the safety of women. 50 Cent shared memes portraying Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez as fictional characters where Megan was compared to Jussie Smollett - a former Empire actor who was discovered to be lying about being the victim of a hate crime. 50 cent has since apologised after hearing details from the trial.

Lanez’s lawyers have expressed that they will be looking into an appeals procedure.

Tiffanie Ibe is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Instagram