A verdict has been rendered in Tory Lanez‘ shooting trial, with jurors ultimately finding him guilty on all three charges levied against him.
He could face a maximum sentence of more than 22 years in prison and deportation back to Canada now that he’s been found guilty.
Lanez Could Face Upwards Of 22 Years In Prison, Deportation To Canada
A Los Angeles jury found Lanez, 30, guilty of discharging a firearm with gross negligence, assault with a semiautomatic firearm and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle.
Meghann Cuniff, a reporter who had been on scene for the duration of the trial, tweeted the courtroom immediately devolved into an emotional scene with family members screaming aloud as the verdict was read.
“A crazy and downright scary scene in the courtroom as his father and stepmother screamed about wicked injustice,”
The news came Friday around 6:15 p.m., after jurors had requested “a better definition of the word ‘willfully’ and ‘on purpose” Jurors agreed to wait until today for a written response from the court, and then took a few more hours to deliberate in favor of a guilty verdict.
Tory Lanez has decided not to testify in his trial for allegedly shooting Megan Thee Stallion. pic.twitter.com/xwjE1CT6Kp
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) December 21, 2022
The news comes after over a week-long trial full of damning testimony from the victim, Megan Thee Stallion, along with other witnesses on the night of the shooting.
Last week, Meg, who’s real name is Megan Pete, emotionally testified that Tory Lanez offered her $1 million to keep quiet about the alleged shooting during the latter’s assault trial this week, and even revealed that the traumatic incident has caused her to have suicidal thoughts, per reports.
Witness Threw Wrench In Lanez’ Defense On Tuesday With Damning Testimony Against The Rapper
On Tuesday, a man by the name of Sean Kelly was called to the stand on behalf of Lanez’ attorneys, throwing a wrench in the rapper’s defense.
According to Rolling Stone, Kelly was in his bedroom around 4 a.m. on July 12, 2020. He looked out his window and allegedly saw four people fighting and shouting at one another. Kelly called the confrontation “quite violent.”
Lanez’ defense team decided to use Kelly as a witness after he spoke with an investigator in 2021. He recalled seeing an initial muzzle flash close to a woman’s hand that morning.
It allegedly occurred during a physical altercation between Megan Thee Stallion and Kelsey Harris while standing near an open door of the Cadillac Escalade the group was riding in. Kelly firmly believes one of the women fired the first shot, though he doesn’t recall seeing a weapon.
The defense team was initially hoping for Kelly’s recollection of events to inspire reasonable doubt in the minds of the jury.
Lanez Decides Not To Testify During His Own Trial, Awaits Upcoming Date For Sentencing
Lanez himself ultimately decided not to testify in his trial, telling the presiding Judge Herriford that it was his decision not to do so. Herriford then read jury instructions before closing arguments began at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.
The next phase will be sentencing, which will take place at a still-undetermined date.
This is a developing story, so be sure to check in with The Shade Room for updates as they come.
