If you’ve been following the Megan Thee Stallion shooting case, you already know the central figure is Canadian rapper Tory Lanez. This article breaks down exactly what he was convicted of, the 10-year sentence handed down on August 8, 2023, and where things stand now, including the latest appeal developments.

4 related posts

Sentence length: 10 years ·
Date of sentencing: August 8, 2023 ·
Victim: Megan Thee Stallion ·
Conviction: assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carrying a loaded unregistered firearm, gross negligence

Key fact Details
Sentence 10 years in prison
Sentencing date August 8, 2023
Victim Megan Thee Stallion
Conviction Assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carrying a loaded unregistered firearm, gross negligence

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • July 2020: Shooting occurs in Hollywood Hills (ABC News)
  • October 2020: Charged with three felonies (ABC News)
  • December 2022: Found guilty on all counts (The New York Times)
  • August 8, 2023: Sentenced to 10 years (PBS NewsHour)
  • November 2025: California Court of Appeal denies appeal (BBC News (global news service))
4What’s next
  • Lanez remains incarcerated while possible further legal options are explored (BBC News)
  • No public confirmation of any new motion filing as of early 2025 (BBC News)
  • His legal team stated they would appeal after sentencing (ABC News)

How many years is Tory Lanez going to serve?

Tory Lanez is serving a 10-year prison sentence with no possibility of parole. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Herriford imposed the sentence on August 8, 2023, after a jury found Lanez guilty on all three felony charges in December 2022.

Tory Lanez faces a full decade behind bars without parole; the 2025 appeal denial makes early release unlikely.

What were the charges?

The three convictions were: assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carrying a loaded unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. These stemmed from the July 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion in the Hollywood Hills.

Release eligibility

Because the sentence is 10 years without parole eligibility, Lanez will serve most — if not all — of that term. California does have provisions for good conduct credits, but no public court order has specified an adjusted release date. CBC News (Canadian public broadcaster) reported that Lanez is currently housed at the California Men’s Colony near San Luis Obispo.

The takeaway: As of early 2025, Lanez faces a full decade behind bars, and his legal options have narrowed significantly after the November 2025 appeal denial.

What did Tory get charged for?

Details of the charges

  • Assault with a semiautomatic firearm — The most serious count, carrying a potential 9-year sentence.
  • Carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle — A lesser but still felony-level violation.
  • Discharging a firearm with gross negligence — The specific charge for firing the weapon in a way that created a substantial risk of harm.

Verdict

On December 23, 2022, a Los Angeles jury found Lanez guilty on all three felony counts. The verdict came after a weeks-long trial that included testimony from Megan Thee Stallion, who testified that Lanez shot her in the feet during an argument over an alleged affair.

Why this matters

The jury’s unanimous decision on all three counts eliminated any ambiguity about Lanez’s culpability. For anyone following the case, the verdict was the turning point — after it, the only real question was the length of the sentence.

The pattern is clear: the charges weren’t about a single reckless act — they formed a sequence of three distinct offenses, each carrying independent legal weight.

How is Tory Lanez doing now?

Recent statements from Lanez

Tory Lanez has continued to communicate with fans from prison, primarily through social media posts managed by his team. He released music and statements denying the allegations against him, though no new sworn court testimony has emerged from his side since the sentencing. The BBC News (global news service) reported that his defense argued trial errors should have led to a different outcome, but the California Court of Appeal rejected those claims in November 2025.

Ongoing legal proceedings

The most significant 2025 development was the denial of Lanez’s appeal by the California Court of Appeal. CBC News confirmed that the panel upheld the conviction on all three counts. A motion for a new trial had already been denied on May 9, 2023.

The catch: with the appellate court’s rejection, Lanez’s remaining options are substantially narrower. He could petition the California Supreme Court, but those are rarely granted.

Did Megan Thee Stallion sleep with Tory Lanez?

Allegations and denials

During the trial, defense attorneys brought up rumors that Megan Thee Stallion and Lanez had been involved in a romantic or sexual relationship. Megan, whose legal name is Megan Pete, testified that she and Lanez were friends but not in a relationship. No evidence of a sexual relationship was presented in court.

Impact on the case

These rumors became a point of contention because the defense suggested they could explain why Megan was in the car with Lanez on the night of the shooting. However, prosecutors argued the relationship angle was irrelevant to the core charge — that Lanez fired a weapon at her. The jury apparently agreed, convicting Lanez without apparent weight given to this defense narrative.

What this means: The “sleeping together” rumor was a distraction from the legal facts. The shooting conviction rested on criminal acts, not personal history.

The trade-off

For Megan Thee Stallion, having to testify about her personal life in open court — and then watch those details become internet rumors — added a layer of public scrutiny that many victims of intimate partner violence face. The court’s decision to sidestep that narrative was a small but meaningful protection of her privacy.

The jury focused on the shooting, not the rumors, which reinforced the legal principle that evidence of a crime outweighs personal speculation.

Who is Tory Lanez?

Early life

Tory Lanez was born Daystar Peterson on July 27, 1992 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. He moved to the United States as a teenager to pursue music.

Music career

Lanez built a career in hip-hop and R&B, releasing a series of mixtapes and albums. His most notable projects include:

  • “Love Me Now?” (2018) — His second studio album.
  • “Alone at Prom” (2021) — A retro-themed album that gained a cult following.
  • “Chixtape” series — Mixtapes blending original songs with samples from 1990s and 2000s R&B.
  • “Daystar” (2020) — A surprise album released while the shooting case was ongoing.

Personal details

The table below summarizes key personal details.

Detail Value
Full name Daystar Peterson
Born July 27, 1992
Place of birth Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Age at sentencing (2023) 31
Height 5’8″ (173 cm)
Estimated net worth (pre-sentence) ~$5 million
Genres Hip-hop, R&B
Notable albums Love Me Now?, Alone at Prom, Daystar

The pattern: Lanez’s career trajectory was rising before the shooting — he had collaborations with major artists and a growing fan base. The conviction effectively ended that momentum.

Tory Lanez was a rising hip-hop star whose 10-year sentence has halted his career; his legacy is now defined by the shooting case.
The upshot

For fans trying to understand the full picture, Lanez’s biography shows a talented musician whose criminal case eclipsed his musical output. The sentence means his career — at least in its active, touring form — is on hold for the rest of the decade.

For more on another rapper’s background, see our profile of Ice‑T: Real Name, Net Worth, Health, Family, and Career.

Timeline of events

  • July 12, 2020: Megan Thee Stallion is shot in the feet during an argument in the Hollywood Hills. She later identifies Lanez as the shooter.
  • October 2020: Lanez is charged with three felony counts.
  • December 23, 2022: A jury finds Lanez guilty on all three counts.
  • May 9, 2023: A motion for a new trial is denied.
  • August 8, 2023: Judge Herriford sentences Lanez to 10 years in prison.
  • November 2025: California Court of Appeal denies Lanez’s appeal, upholding the conviction.

“The record contains overwhelming evidence of defendant’s guilt,” the appellate panel said in its decision, as reported by BBC News.

California Court of Appeal, November 2025

The implication: the timeline shows a swift progression from incident to conviction — under three years from shooting to guilty verdict, and another two years for the appeal to be rejected. For a high-profile case, that’s relatively fast.

Confirmed facts vs unclear details

Confirmed facts

  • 10-year prison sentence imposed August 8, 2023 (PBS NewsHour)
  • Conviction on three felony counts (The New York Times)
  • No possibility of parole (ABC News)
  • Appeal denied November 2025 (BBC News)

What’s unclear

  • Exact release date if good conduct credits apply
  • Whether further appeals (e.g., to California Supreme Court) will be filed
  • Current mental health and well-being in prison
  • Long-term career prospects after release
  • Incarceration location — reported as California Men’s Colony but subject to change
Additional sources

yahoo.com, abcnews.com, theguardian.com, usatoday.com, npr.org, news.iheart.com, abcnews.com

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

What is Tory Lanez’s real name?

His birth name is Daystar Peterson.

How old is Tory Lanez?

He was born on July 27, 1992, making him 32 years old as of 2025.

Is Tory Lanez married?

There is no public record of him being married. He has a son with an ex-partner.

What is Tory Lanez’s most popular song?

His biggest streaming hits include “LUV” (over 300 million streams on Spotify) and “Say It” (over 200 million streams).

Where is Tory Lanez from?

He was born in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, and moved to the U.S. as a teen.

Does Tory Lanez have children?

Yes, he has one son, whose mother is not publicly identified.

Can Tory Lanez appeal his sentence?

His appeal was already denied in November 2025 by the California Court of Appeal. He could potentially petition the California Supreme Court, but such petitions are rarely accepted.

For Megan Thee Stallion, the conclusion of this legal chapter closes one of the most publicized criminal cases in recent hip-hop history. The 10-year sentence sends a clear message about how the legal system treats gun violence between intimate partners. For Lanez, the decision ahead is stark: accept the decade behind bars, or attempt a long-shot appeal to a higher court — a process that, if unsuccessful, could add years without changing the outcome.