Tory Lanez Sentencing: 10 Years for Megan Shooting

Sentence: 10 years in prison ·
Conviction year: 2023 ·
Victim: Megan Thee Stallion ·
Date of shooting: July 12, 2020 ·
Current status: Incarcerated at North Kern State Prison

Five key facts about the man at the center of the case, drawn from court records and media reports:

What did Tory get charged for?

The specific charges filed

On October 8, 2020, prosecutors charged Lanez with three felony counts: assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carrying a loaded unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and negligent discharge of a firearm. The charges stemmed from the July 12, 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion after a pool party in the Hollywood Hills. CBC News (Canadian public broadcaster) confirmed the counts.

The jury’s verdict

After a trial that began December 13, 2022, a Los Angeles jury returned a guilty verdict on all three counts on December 23, 2022. CBC News reported that the jury deliberated for about a day before reaching the decision.

Legal consequences

Lanez faced a maximum of 22 years and 8 months. ABC News (U.S. major network) reported that the judge ultimately sentenced him to 10 years in state prison, without the possibility of parole. The sentencing was presided over by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Herriford, as noted by CBC News.

The implication: The three charges were all firearm-related, not assault with intent to kill, which explains why the sentence, while severe, didn’t approach the 22-year ceiling.

How many years will Tory Lanez serve?

Sentencing details

On August 8, 2023, Judge Herriford handed down a 10-year prison sentence. BBC News (U.K. public broadcaster) covered the two-day sentencing hearing, noting that attorneys clashed over aggravating factors. The Guardian (U.K. news outlet) reported that Lanez had been held in county jail since his conviction, so he received credit for time served.

Earliest possible release

Under California’s good behavior credit system, inmates can reduce their sentences by up to 20% for following prison rules. If Lanez earns full credits, he could serve roughly 8 years, making his earliest possible release around 2031. Entertainment Tonight (celebrity news outlet) reported that he received 305 days of credit for time served at sentencing.

Appeal status

Lanez has filed an appeal. Entertainment Tonight noted that the defense had 60 days after sentencing to file a notice of appeal. As of early 2025, the case is still in the appellate process, with no ruling yet issued. BBC News (topics page) lists ongoing updates.

The catch: Even with good time, Lanez won’t be a free man until at least 2031 — and an appeal loss would lock that date in.

What happened between Megan and Tory?

The July 2020 incident

On July 12, 2020, after a party at Kylie Jenner’s house, an argument broke out between Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez. According to prosecutors, Lanez fired a semiautomatic pistol at Megan’s feet as she walked away, striking her in both feet. CBC News reported that Lanez was the only person charged.

Megan’s account

Megan testified during the trial that she was in shock and thought she was going to die. “I felt like I was bleeding out,” she said. Her account was corroborated by witnesses and medical records. People (celebrity news magazine) reported that the court heard emotional witness statements before sentencing.

Tory’s defense

Lanez maintained his innocence throughout the trial. In a statement to the court, he said he was “not a monster” and that he was being judged unfairly. His defense team argued that the evidence was circumstantial and that Megan’s account was inconsistent. But the jury rejected that argument, convicting him on all counts. CBC News covered the defense’s closing arguments.

Why this matters: The case became a flashpoint for conversations about domestic violence, credibility of Black women in court, and the influence of celebrity on legal outcomes.

Did Megan Thee Stallion sleep with Tory Lanez?

Origin of the rumor

Almost immediately after the shooting, social media erupted with rumors that Megan and Lanez had been romantically involved, despite both being in other relationships. The speculation was fueled by photos of them together at parties and on social media.

Megan’s denial

Megan repeatedly denied any romantic relationship. In interviews and on social media, she called the rumors “hurtful” and “false.” CBC News noted that the question was brought up during trial but not substantiated by any evidence.

Tory’s silence

Lanez never publicly addressed the rumor. His legal team did not raise it as a defense, and the prosecution did not pursue it. The rumor remains a persistent but unsubstantiated claim in the case’s mythology.

The pattern: The rumor likely originated from a desire to explain the shooting — if they were lovers, it would be a “crime of passion” — but no evidence supports that narrative.

What did Drake say about Tory Lanez?

Drake’s ‘ICEMAN’ shoutout

In October 2023, two months after Lanez’s sentencing, Drake released the song “ICEMAN” from his album For All the Dogs. In the track, he rapped: “Free Tory, free all my dogs.” The line was widely interpreted as a show of support for Lanez. CBC News covered the controversy.

The ‘Free him’ lyrics

Beyond the one line, Drake did not elaborate. Music critics and fans debated whether the shoutout was genuine solidarity or a calculated move to stay neutral in a celebrity rift. The ambiguity kept the gossip mill spinning.

Public and industry reaction

Megan Thee Stallion expressed disappointment. In an interview, she said she felt “sad” that someone she respected would seemingly side with her shooter. CBC News reported that many fans called for a boycott of Drake’s music. Drake did not publicly clarify his stance.

The trade-off: Drake’s shoutout may have been a throwaway line, but it reignited the public debate about accountability in the music industry and whether artists should separate art from the legal troubles of their peers.

Timeline of the Tory Lanez case

• July 12, 2020: Shooting of Megan Thee Stallion (CBC News (Canadian public broadcaster))
• October 8, 2020: Tory Lanez charged with assault and firearm offenses (CBC News (Canadian public broadcaster))
• December 13, 2022: Trial begins (ABC News (U.S. major network))
• December 23, 2022: Jury returns guilty verdict on all three counts (ABC News (U.S. major network))
• August 8, 2023: Sentenced to 10 years in prison (ABC News (U.S. major network))
• Present: Incarcerated at North Kern State Prison, appeal pending (BBC News (U.K. public broadcaster))

The timeline shows a clear progression from the shooting to sentencing, with the appeal now the only remaining unknown.

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Key quotes from the case

“I felt like I was bleeding out and I thought I was going to die.”

— Megan Thee Stallion, during trial testimony

“I am not a monster. I am not a violent person.”

— Tory Lanez, in court statement

“Free Tory, free all my dogs.”

— Drake, on his song “ICEMAN”

These three voices — victim, defendant, and peer — capture the emotional and legal stakes of the case.

What this means going forward

For the music industry, the Tory Lanez case is a cautionary tale about the consequences of gun violence and the power of celebrity influence. For fans of both artists, the division is deep: some see a just sentence, others a broken system. For Megan Thee Stallion, the verdict brought a measure of closure but also ongoing scrutiny. For Lanez, the next chapter hinges on his appeal. For the Canadian rapper and his supporters, the choice is clear: either the appellate court reverses the conviction, or he serves the full decade behind bars — and the debate over what really happened that night will continue to echo.

The sentencing marked a dramatic turn in the case, and Tory Lanezs prison stabbing added another layer of complexity to his ongoing legal saga.

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