LOS ANGELES -- (AP) -- A jury in Los Angeles became chaotic after a tense trial Friday, ruling that rapper Tory Lanez was charged with shooting hip-hop star May in 2020. Three felony counts against Megan Thee Stallion. Her foot was wounded by shrapnel in the attack, and Lanez's conviction could see him serve more than 20 years in prison. Lanez, wearing a pink jacket and matching trousers, was led into the jail in handcuffs and showed no apparent reaction as the sentence was read. But moments later, after the jury was escorted, his father, Sonstar Peterson, jumped to his feet and exclaimed, "This wicked system stands before Almighty God!" as the MP approached him. Pointing at the two prosecutors, Peterson then yelled: "You two are bad people, bad people. You know exactly what you did." Deputies struggled to drag him out of the courtroom, where he screamed in the hallway. .
A jury of seven women and five men deliberated since Thursday before charging the 30-year-old Canadian rapper, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, with assault with a semiautomatic firearm and possession of a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle And fired a gun convicted of gross negligence. The jury also agreed that there were aggravating factors in the attack, meaning Lanez could face up to 22 years in prison and deportation if convicted on Jan. 25. Three young children, including Lanez's son, sat in the front row of the courtroom as the verdict was read. A little girl began to cry and was held by Lanez's stepmother, who was also in tears, before starting screaming along with her husband. .
Others in the target audience shouted agreement, and one lady shouted “we love you Tory” as he was once led away.
Supporters of Megan and Lanez gathered outdoor the courthouse for most of the eight-day trial and crowded the court docket and the hallway. The scene was once traumatic at times, however remained generally peaceable till the verdict used to be read.
Megan Thee Stallion, whose criminal identify is Megan Pete, testified in the course of the trial that Lanez fired a handgun at the again of her ft and shouted for her to dance as she walked away from an SUV in which they had been using in the Hollywood Hills in the summer time of 2020. She stated the two had gotten into a dispute that grew to become particularly heated when she commenced insulting his music.
She wanted surgical procedure to do away with bullet fragments from her feet.
After the verdict, her lawyer, Alex Spiro stated “the jury bought it right” and stated he was once “thankful there is justice for Meg.”
Lanez’ legal professional George Mgdesyan stated they had been “shocked by way of the verdict.”
“There used to be no longer ample proof to convict Mr. Peterson,” Mgdesyan stated in a statement. “We accept as true with this case used to be now not demonstrated past a lifelike doubt. We will be exploring all choices along with an appeal.”
The taking pictures set off a storm of cultural troubles and arguments that peaked for the duration of the trial, along with the reluctance of Black victims to talk to police, the safety of Black women, gender politics in hip-hop, and on line toxicity.
In closing arguments, prosecutors emphasised the braveness it took for Megan come ahead and the vitriol the 27-year-old confronted for it. They stated she had no incentive to inform whatever however the truth.
After the verdict, District Attorney George Gascón praised her.
“You confirmed terrific braveness and vulnerability with your testimony regardless of repeated and grotesque assaults that you did now not deserve," Gascón stated in a statement. "You confronted unjust and despicable scrutiny that no female ought to ever face."
Lanez’ attorney alleged in his closing argument that the photographs have been virtually fired by way of Megan’s then-best buddy Kelsey Harris in a jealous combat over Lanez, who tried to stop the shooting. The attorney, George Mgdesyan, argued Megan created a extra sympathetic narrative by way of pinning the taking pictures on Lanez.
“Megan Pete is a liar. She lied about the whole lot in this case from the beginning,” Mgdesyan said. “She lied below oath here.”
Harris denied being the shooter and before recognized Lanez as the one keeping the gun. Her attorney, in an email, declined to remark on her involvement.
Lanez started releasing mixtapes in 2009 and noticed a regular upward jab in popularity, transferring on to major-label albums. His final two reached the pinnacle 10 on Billboard’s charts.
Megan Thee Stallion used to be already a most important rising celebrity at the time of the shooting, and her prominence has surged since.
She gained a Grammy for quality new artist in 2021, and had No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot a hundred with her personal track “Savage,” proposing Beyoncé, and as a visitor on Cardi B’s “WAP.”
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