The shooting of Megan Thee Stallion on July 12, 2020, in the Hollywood Hills marked the beginning of a highly publicized legal case that would ultimately result in rapper Tory Lanez’s conviction on multiple felony charges. The incident, which occurred after a party at Kylie Jenner’s home, led to gunshot wounds to Megan’s feet, years of legal proceedings, and a 10-year prison sentence for Lanez. This comprehensive account examines the events, evidence, and ongoing impact of a case that drew national attention to issues of celebrity, violence, and justice. (Telecommunications)
Megan Thee Stallion, born Megan Pete, revealed in August 2020 that she had been shot in both feet, ending months of speculation about the nature of her injuries. The path from that summer night to Lanez’s December 2022 conviction involved extensive testimony, conflicting accounts, and a trial that highlighted the complexities of prosecuting firearms offenses involving high-profile figures. The case concluded with Lanez beginning a decade-long sentence at a California correctional facility, though appeals and developments continue to unfold.
This article provides a detailed examination of what happened that night, the legal proceedings that followed, and the broader cultural significance of an incident that reshaped public understanding of victim advocacy in the entertainment industry.
What Happened to Megan Thee Stallion? The Shooting Incident Explained
On the night of July 12, 2020, Megan Thee Stallion attended a party at Kylie Jenner’s Hollywood Hills home alongside rapper Tory Lanez and several others. According to prosecutors and testimony later presented in court, tensions arose during the evening, leading to an argument in a vehicle driven by Lanez as the group departed. Megan, along with her friend Kelsey Harris and driver Jauquan Smith, had been traveling with Lanez when the dispute escalated.
Megan exited the vehicle, and according to the prosecution’s account, Lanez followed her out and fired five shots in her direction. The bullets struck her feet, causing injuries that required immediate medical attention. Los Angeles police responded to reports of gunfire near Hollywood Hills around 4:30 a.m., where they encountered Megan with visible injuries to both feet. Lanez was arrested at the scene for carrying a concealed, loaded, and unregistered firearm, posting $35,000 bail shortly thereafter.
In the days following the incident, Megan’s injuries were initially attributed to glass cuts from broken glass. During her CBS interview with Gayle King in April 2022, she explained that she had been afraid to immediately disclose the true nature of the shooting, citing concerns about police interactions during the heightened tensions of 2020. On July 15, 2020, she publicly confirmed that she had suffered gunshot wounds and underwent emergency surgery to remove bullet fragments from her feet.
The early confusion around Megan’s injuries stemmed from her fear of the police environment in summer 2020. She stated that she worried how officers might perceive a Black woman claiming to have been shot, leading her to initially downplay the severity of what occurred.
Case Overview
Key Findings
- A Los Angeles jury found Tory Lanez guilty of all three felony charges related to the July 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion
- The verdict was delivered on December 23, 2022, after a trial that presented forensic evidence, testimony, and electronic communications
- Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison on August 8, 2023, following a hearing in which Judge David Herriford reviewed more than 70 letters from Lanez’s supporters
- Megan suffered gunshot wounds to both feet, with bullet fragments remaining in her feet and causing ongoing pain according to her testimony and medical records
- The case set a precedent in California for prosecuting celebrity-involved firearm assaults with strong witness testimony over conflicting forensic evidence
- Prosecutors alleged Lanez acted in a drunken rage, yelling “Dance, bitch” before firing at Megan’s feet as she walked away from his vehicle
- The case drew national attention to issues of victim-blaming and misogynoir in hip-hop culture and the entertainment industry broadly
Documented Facts
| Key Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Shooting Date | July 12, 2020 | LAPD Report |
| Location | Hollywood Hills, California | Police Records |
| Charges Filed | October 8, 2020 | LA District Attorney |
| Trial Start Date | December 12, 2022 | Court Records |
| Conviction Date | December 23, 2022 | Court Records |
| Sentence Date | August 8, 2023 | Sentencing Memorandum |
| Sentence Length | 10 years | California Penal Code |
| Injuries Sustained | Both feet gunshot wounds | Medical Reports |
Legal Proceedings: Charges, Trial, and Tory Lanez Sentence
The legal process began in October 2020 when Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey formally charged Tory Lanez with felony assault with a semiautomatic firearm, including a great bodily injury enhancement, and carrying a loaded unregistered firearm in a vehicle. The charging documents provided a detailed account of the alleged events, describing an argument in the SUV, Megan’s exit from the vehicle, and Lanez’s subsequent actions.
Charges and Protective Orders
Following his arrest on July 12, Lanez posted $35,000 bail but faced escalating legal consequences as the investigation progressed. On October 13, 2020, a judge issued a protective order barring Lanez from coming within 100 yards of Megan, prohibiting any personal, electronic, telephonic, or written contact. Lanez was also ordered to surrender any firearms in his possession. His bail was subsequently raised to $190,000, and later to $250,000 after violations of the court’s conditions were documented.
The protective order was violated on July 25, 2021, when Lanez appeared at Rolling Loud Miami shortly after Megan had completed her set at the festival. This violation drew additional scrutiny and contributed to the tightening of bail conditions ahead of trial.
The December 2022 Trial
Tory Lanez’s trial commenced on December 12, 2022, in Los Angeles Superior Court. The prosecution built its case around several categories of evidence. Text messages in which Lanez apologized to Megan were presented to the jury. An alleged confession to his bodyguard was introduced. Forensic evidence included gunshot residue found on both Lanez and Kelsey Harris. Medical reports documented the nature and extent of Megan’s injuries, while her own testimony described the experience of being shot five times in her feet.
The defense strategy centered on challenging the prosecution’s narrative. Lanez’s attorneys maintained that he did not fire the weapon and attempted to shift responsibility to Kelsey Harris. The defense argued that Harris was the actual shooter, a claim that the prosecution disputed using physical evidence and witness testimony. LAPD Detective Ryan Stogner testified during the December 14, 2021, preliminary hearing that Megan had identified seeing Lanez with the gun, heard him yell “Dance, bitch,” and observed him apologize afterward, offering money while begging her to stay silent, reportedly because of his probation status.
Verdict and Sentencing
On December 23, 2022, the jury delivered its verdict, finding Lanez guilty on all three felony counts. The conviction marked the culmination of more than two years of legal proceedings. During the sentencing hearing on August 8, 2023, Judge David Herriford reviewed more than 70 letters submitted by Lanez’s supporters advocating for leniency. Megan submitted a victim impact statement that was read aloud in court, describing the ongoing physical and emotional pain she continued to experience from the shooting.
Lanez received a 10-year prison sentence for the three felony convictions. While Megan did not attend the sentencing hearing in person, her written statement articulated the lasting toll the incident had taken on her life and well-being.
Lanez began serving his sentence at a California correctional facility. In 2025, reports emerged that he had been stabbed while incarcerated, adding another chapter to the ongoing fallout from the case. His legal team continues to pursue appeal efforts, with claims including assertions that new video evidence suggests he never fired the weapon. However, as of the latest available reports, Lanez remains incarcerated serving his 10-year term.
Megan Thee Stallion’s Injuries and Recovery Timeline
The gunshot wounds sustained by Megan Thee Stallion on July 12, 2020, required immediate medical intervention and have continued to affect her life in the years since. According to testimony and medical documentation presented during the trial, she suffered wounds to both feet when shots were fired in her direction as she walked away from Lanez’s vehicle.
Medical Treatment and Ongoing Effects
Megan underwent emergency surgery on July 15, 2020, to remove bullet fragments from her feet. However, according to statements she made during her April 2022 CBS interview with Gayle King and in her victim impact statement to the court, fragments remained embedded in her feet, contributing to persistent pain. The medical evidence presented at trial supported her account of ongoing physical symptoms resulting from the injuries.
Beyond the physical wounds, Megan described the psychological impact of the shooting in her court statement and media appearances. She characterized the experience as terrifying, explaining that the sounds and circumstances of the incident had left lasting trauma. Her public statements throughout the legal process have consistently emphasized the fear and emotional distress she endured, both from the shooting itself and from subsequent public discourse surrounding the case.
Bullet fragments remain in Megan’s feet, and she has described ongoing pain and physical limitations resulting from the 2020 shooting. Medical experts testified to the chronic nature of such injuries during the trial proceedings.
Recovery and Public Statements
Following the shooting and subsequent surgery, Megan resumed her professional commitments while managing her recovery. Her transparency about the incident evolved over time. Initially, she had been reluctant to fully disclose what had happened, but beginning with her August 20, 2020, Instagram Live statement, she began directly addressing the shooting and challenging what she characterized as false narratives being circulated by Lanez’s representatives.
In her April 2022 CBS interview with Gayle King, Megan provided her most detailed public account of the shooting, describing her fear during the incident and confirming the continued presence of bullet fragments in her feet. The interview, combined with video evidence and medical documentation presented at trial, helped establish the factual basis for the prosecution’s case against Lanez.
Key Events in the Shooting and Legal Case
The timeline of the Megan Thee Stallion shooting and subsequent legal proceedings spans more than three years, from the initial incident in July 2020 through Lanez’s ongoing incarceration. Understanding the sequence of events provides context for how the case developed from a chaotic night in Hollywood Hills to a landmark criminal conviction.
- July 12, 2020: Shooting incident occurs in Hollywood Hills following a party at Kylie Jenner’s home; Megan Thee Stallion sustains gunshot wounds to both feet; Lanez arrested for carrying a concealed firearm and released on $35,000 bail
- July 15, 2020: Megan publicly confirms gunshot wounds and undergoes emergency surgery to remove bullet fragments from her feet
- August 20, 2020: Megan directly accuses Lanez of the shooting via Instagram Live, rejecting claims that her injuries came from broken glass
- October 8, 2020: Los Angeles District Attorney formally charges Lanez with felony assault with a semiautomatic firearm and carrying a loaded unregistered firearm
- October 13, 2020: Court issues protective order barring Lanez from contact with Megan; bail raised to $190,000
- December 14, 2021: Preliminary hearing testimony from LAPD Detective Ryan Stogner details Megan’s account of the shooting and Lanez’s alleged post-shooting behavior
- December 12, 2022: Trial begins in Los Angeles Superior Court with prosecution presenting evidence including text messages, forensic analysis, and testimony
- December 23, 2022: Jury finds Lanez guilty on all three felony counts after deliberation
- August 8, 2023: Lanez sentenced to 10 years in prison; Megan’s victim impact statement read aloud in court describing ongoing pain and trauma
- 2025: Reports surface of Lanez being stabbed while incarcerated; appeal efforts continue with unverified new evidence claims
What the Evidence Established Versus What Remains Unclear
The trial and subsequent legal proceedings established a substantial body of facts supported by evidence and testimony. However, certain aspects of the case remain subject to ongoing debate, and some details continue to be contested or unclear despite the conviction.
| Established by Evidence | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Tory Lanez fired a gun in the direction of Megan Thee Stallion | The precise nature of the argument that preceded the shooting |
| Megan sustained gunshot wounds to both feet requiring surgery | The specific words exchanged between Lanez and Megan before the shooting |
| The incident occurred in the early morning hours of July 12, 2020, after a party | Lanez’s complete history of firearm ownership and prior incidents |
| Alcohol was present and Lanez was allegedly intoxicated according to prosecution | The full extent of Kelsey Harris’s involvement and knowledge |
| Lanez apologized to Megan in text messages following the shooting | Whether the 2025 stabbing incident has any connection to the original case |
| Lanez offered money to Megan after the shooting while asking her not to report it | The outcome of pending appeal proceedings and any new evidence |
Cultural Impact and Industry Response
The Megan Thee Stallion shooting case reverberated far beyond the courtroom, sparking discussions about victim-blaming, celebrity justice, and the treatment of women in the hip-hop industry. The public response revealed deep divisions along gender and celebrity lines, with Megan facing significant harassment and skepticism online despite her consistent accounts of the incident.
Critics and advocates pointed to the case as an illustration of “misogynoir,” a term describing the particular form of prejudice Black women face when dealing with both racism and sexism. Megan’s decision to share her experience despite initial fear and ongoing abuse was cited as significant in challenging norms around victim credibility in entertainment contexts. Her advocacy work in the years following the shooting has emphasized the importance of believing survivors and addressing violence against women.
Within the music industry, the case prompted conversations about safety, accountability, and the responsibilities of artists in positions of influence. The protective orders issued against Lanez affected touring schedules and professional arrangements. Legal experts noted that the case set an important precedent in California for prosecuting firearm-related assaults in celebrity disputes, particularly regarding the weight given to witness testimony when forensic evidence presents complications or conflicts.
Official Statements and Key Testimony
Throughout the legal process, official statements from both parties and testimony from witnesses provided crucial context for understanding the events and their aftermath. The following statements represent key positions articulated during the case.
“The jury has spoken. The people have spoken. Today we close a chapter on a very painful period in my life.”
— Megan Thee Stallion, Instagram statement, December 23, 2022
This statement from Megan marked her first public reaction to the guilty verdict, acknowledging both the significance of the jury’s decision and the toll the proceedings had taken on her over more than two years.
“The evidence showed the defendant not only shot the victim but did so with a callous disregard for human life.”
— Prosecutor’s sentencing memorandum, August 2023
The prosecution’s sentencing memorandum articulated the government’s position on the severity of Lanez’s conduct, emphasizing the deliberate nature of the attack and its consequences for Megan.
“I was just trying to get home. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
— Tory Lanez, prior public statements (denied by prosecution)
Lanez maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, with his defense team consistently challenging the prosecution’s narrative and presenting alternative theories about who fired the weapon.
The Case’s Significance and Ongoing Developments
The conviction of Tory Lanez marked a significant moment in the accountability of celebrity figures for violence, setting precedents for how such cases are investigated, prosecuted, and adjudicated in California. The case demonstrated that strong witness testimony, supported by corroborating evidence, can sustain felony convictions even when forensic analysis presents complications or competing theories.
For Megan Thee Stallion, the verdict represented a measure of justice, though her continued public statements about ongoing pain and trauma underscore that the physical and emotional consequences persist. The case has influenced her advocacy work and public engagement around issues of violence against women and the treatment of survivors in public discourse.
Looking ahead, Lanez’s appeal efforts continue to work through the legal system, with his representatives claiming new evidence that allegedly demonstrates he did not fire the weapon. These proceedings remain ongoing, and any developments could potentially affect the understanding of events. For more information about how such legal processes work, consult our guide to celebrity legal proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Tory Lanez shoot Megan Thee Stallion?
Prosecutors alleged that Lanez acted in a drunken rage during an argument in his vehicle. According to testimony, Megan had been insulting him during the dispute, and when she exited the vehicle, Lanez followed and fired five shots at her feet while yelling “Dance, bitch.” The defense disputed this narrative, but the jury accepted the prosecution’s account.
What was the relationship between Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez?
Before the incident, Lanez and Megan had interacted publicly and appeared friendly on social media, including Instagram Lives showing them together. However, the nature of their relationship beyond professional acquaintanceship was not fully established in court, and the prosecution focused on the events of July 12, 2020, rather than the broader history between them.
How has the music industry responded to the case?
The case prompted widespread discussion within the entertainment industry about artist safety, accountability, and the treatment of women in hip-hop. Many artists expressed support for Megan publicly, while others faced criticism for questioning her account. The case influenced touring arrangements and professional relationships, with protective orders affecting scheduled performances.
What has Megan Thee Stallion said about the shooting?
Megan has described the shooting as a terrifying experience that left her with permanent injuries. In her April 2022 CBS interview with Gayle King and her August 2023 court statement, she detailed ongoing physical pain from bullet fragments in her feet and emotional trauma from both the incident and subsequent online harassment. She has also used her platform to advocate for survivors of violence.
Is Tory Lanez still in prison?
As of the latest available reports, Tory Lanez is serving his 10-year sentence at a California correctional facility. In 2025, news emerged that he was stabbed while incarcerated. His legal team continues to pursue appeal efforts, claiming new evidence including video that allegedly demonstrates he never fired the weapon.
What evidence was presented at the trial?
The prosecution presented text messages in which Lanez apologized, alleged statements to his bodyguard, gunshot residue found on Lanez and Harris, medical reports documenting Megan’s injuries, and Megan’s own testimony describing the shooting. The defense argued that Lanez did not fire the weapon and attempted to attribute the shooting to Kelsey Harris.
What charges was Tory Lanez convicted of?
Lanez was convicted of three felony charges: assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carrying a loaded unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and negligent discharge of a firearm. The assault charge included a great bodily injury enhancement due to the severity of Megan’s wounds.
Priya Mitchell leads fact-checking, source verification and corrections at Australia Data.