Canadian rapper Tory Lanez will spend 10 years in prison for shooting and injuring Megan Thee Stallion after Kylie Jenner's pool party in 2020
Lawyers for Lanez, who has been in jail since he was found guilty of three counts in December, says they will appeal the sentence
Grammy-winning artist Megan Thee Stallion was shot in the feet with a handgun during an argument between the pair
A victim statement written by Megan Thee Stallion says she will "never be the same" and Lanez's crime "warrants the full weight of the law"
Prosecutors had initially asked for a 13-year prison sentence but the judge decided on 10 after a marathon sentence hearing that lasted two full days
The case sparked a divide in the broader world of hip-hop, with multiple songs referencing the shooting as well as Drake and 50 Cent getting involved in the fallout
We are ending our Live Page coverage on the sentencing of Canadian rapper Tory Lanez for the shooting of US hip hop star Megan Thee Stallion.
Thank you for following along.
This page was edited by Brandon Livesay and Marianna Brady, and was written by Brandon Drenon, Jacqueline Howard, Thomas Mackintosh, Cesar RojasAngel and Nadine Yousif.
We'll be bringing our live coverage to a close soon, here's a summary of what's happened.
George Gascón says he hopes the sentence can provide 'hope to those who feel helpless'
Image source, Mona Shafer EdwardsDuring the trial, the jury heard that during the drive home from Kylie Jenner’s pool party on the night of July 11, 2020, Megan Thee Stallion insulted Tory Lanez‘s musical talent.
As the argument escalated, she demanded to be let out of the car. Megan testified that she heard Lanez shout “dance" before he fired five rounds at her.
The court heard she left a trail of blood at the scene, before getting back into the vehicle, which was stopped minutes later by police.
A gun that was still warm to the touch was found near where Lanez had been sitting.
Megan testified Lanez had offered her $1m (£780,000) to keep quiet about the attack because he claimed to be on probation for a weapons offence.
Minutes after the shooting, another passenger texted Megan Thee Stallion's security detail, saying: "Help... Tory shot meg."
Riyah Collins
BBC Newsbeat
Image source, Getty ImagesIt's a case that has divided fans and spilled out into the wider hip-hop world, with artists like 50 Cent and Drake getting involved.
Megan Thee Stallion criticised Drake when he released Circo Loco, a collab with 21 Savage that appeared to reference the shooting case in its lyrics.
50 Cent shared memes depicting Megan and Tory Lanez as fictional characters, and he compared Megan to Jussie Smollett, the former Empire actor who was found guilty of falsely claiming he was the victim of a hate crime.
He eventually apologised saying he changed his mind after hearing evidence from the trial.
But she did receive support from fellow artists, like JoJo and Kehlani.
The pair removed Tory Lanez from their albums, with Kehlani saying she had to “do the right thing” because the situation involved her close friend Megan.
Tanishia Wright, Director of Victim Services at the Los Angeles District Attorney's office, extended her "sincere condolences" to Megan Thee Stallion "for the pain and the trauma that she had to experience over the last few years".
"Violence against black women and girls is a long standing national epidemic that has long been overlooked and under-reported," Wright says.
"Women of colour more times than not do not come forward to report victimisation due to the fear they will not be believed," she adds.
Wright says that no victim should feel like they are being attacked or slammed through social media because they were brave enough to come forward.
"Please know that your feelings are valid and that you matter," Wright says to other victims who may be watching.
Image source, ReutersDistrict Attorney George Gascón
Reacting to the verdict at a news conference, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said Tory Lanez has tried to silence and intimidate Megan Thee Stallion to keep her from sharing her truth.
He adds that Megan Thee Stallion remained strong "despite the physical violence, verbal attacks and attempts at public humiliation".
"The fact that (Megan) is a successful entertainer has brought an important spotlight on the issue of violence against women," Gascón said.
He says that many women like Megan feel afraid to come forward about their own experiences with abuse. He said he hopes that she has inspired other women by being vocal.
Image source, ReutersJose Baez, Tory Lanez's lawyer, says his client plans to appeal the 10-year prison sentence.
"There are significant issues... that we've laid out in our motion for a new trial," Baez said outside court moments ago.
He references arguments like a lack of DNA evidence against Lanez in relation to the shooting, saying that the rapper's DNA was not found on the gun used.
Baez adds that he believes Lanez did not receive a fair trial.
Image source, Mona Shafer EdwardsCourt sketch of Tory Lanez speaking in court at sentencing hearing
Tory Lanez was convicted of three felonies in December 2022: assault with a semi-automatic firearm, having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.
Freelance court journalist Meghann Cuniff in Los Angeles, external reports that Lanez spoke for several minutes after the sentence was handed down.
Lanez said that Megan Thee Stallion is "someone I still care for dearly to this day".
"I said some very immature things that I shouldn't have said. I revealed some secrets I shouldn't have revealed," Lanez adds about the incident.
After a drawn out sentencing hearing he has now received a 10-year prison sentence from the judge. Prosecutors asked for 13 years, while Lanez's defence asked for probation.
Rapper Tory Lanez has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting and wounding Megan Thee Stallion, PA News reports.
Image source, Mona Shafer EdwardsWe are still waiting to learn what prison sentence Tory Lanez will receive after being convicted on three charges in December 2022 over the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion.
The sentencing hearing has now stretched into its second day. Here's a catch-up of what happened on Monday:
The prosecution is asking for a sentence of 13 years. Lanez's team is fighting for rehabilitation over prison time.
The court in California has just adjourned for lunch.
They will be back in just over an hour to continue the sentencing hearing for Tory Lanez.
We will also be back then with the latest from court.
11 July 2020:
12 July 2020:
15 July 2020
20 August 2020
9 October 2020
Image source, Getty ImagesMegan Thee Stallion - whose legal name is Megan Pete - is a 28-year-old US singer, songwriter and rapper.
She has won three Grammy Awards for her music, including Best New Artist in 2021.
The artist also won the Best Rap Song Grammy for Savage Remix with Beyonce in the same year.
Savage Remix reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, as did her collaboration with Cardi B on WAP.
Megan has also worked with Nicki Minaj and Ty Dollar $ign.
In the prosecution's submission to the judge they argue Tory Lanez should be punished for his campaign to discredit Megan Thee Stallion as well as for shooting her in the first place.
The prosecution asked the judge for a sentence of 13 years for shooting a "vulnerable victim" in the quiet residential street and waging a "campaign to humiliate and re-traumatise" her.
His "worldwide reach" of millions of followers were "emboldened" by his statements, prosecutors said.
So, will he get 13 years? Or will the judge choose to put him behind bars for less time?
We are expecting to hear from the LA District Attorney's office, which is prosecuting Lanez, at around 13:00 local time, which is in a little under two hours time.
You can watch the press conference live on their instagram page, external.
After Tory Lanez shot Megan Thee Stallion in the feet in July 2020, she said she had to have surgery that same night.
Months after the incident, Megan said she still "could not walk" and had "bullet fragments in my feet".
The emotional trauma that she says still remains was detailed in a victim impact statement read by the Los Angeles County deputy district attorney on Monday in court.
"Slowly but surely, I'm healing and coming back, but I will never be the same," her letter said.
Image source, Getty ImagesTory Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, is a 31-year-old Canadian rapper.
His songs include The Color Violet and Hurts Me.
Lanez has been in prison since December 2022 after he was convicted of three charges over the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion:
He has continued to release music while in prison. Today, he will learn his prison sentence.
Today's sentencing hearing of Tory Lanez is due to start any moment now.
There are no cameras allowed in the courtroom but we will bring you updates as soon as we learn them.
We are expecting the judge to hand down a sentence today, after a delay in the proceedings yesterday.
Prosecutors want a sentence of 13 years, however Lanez's defence says he needs rehabilitation rather than prison time.
We were expecting Tory Lanez's prison sentence to be read aloud in court on Monday, but it was not.
A press conference with the Los Angeles District Attorney was scheduled, postponed, and eventually cancelled when it became clear the sentencing would not be announced on Monday.
The reason for this is likely due to the judge receiving more than 70 letters in support of Lanez. They were written by family and friends (including one by rapper Iggy Azalea).
Witnesses also spoke in court on Monday.
Lanez's father talked emotionally about how the death of the rapper's mother when he was 11 had left a lasting impact.
And a prison chaplain spoke in his favour, saying Lanez had been leading daily prayer groups.
Image source, Sonstar Peterson/ FacebookTory Lanez father, Sonstar Peterson