Tory Lanez’s trial began today (December 12) in Los Angeles. The Canadian rapper and singer is facing charges related to a July 2020 incident where he is accused of shooting Megan Thee Stallion. If convicted on all three felony counts, Lanez could face more than 20 years in prison. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Neither artist took the stand today, but Megan will reportedly give her testimony tomorrow.
During his opening arguments, Los Angeles County’s deputy district attorney, Alexander Bott, told jurors that Megan Thee Stallion was shot by Tory Lanez, reports Rolling Stone. Kelsey Harris—Megan’s former friend and assistant—was apparently with the two musicians before, during, and after the shooting. “Kelsey will tell you that she just saw her close friend get shot by the defendant,” Bott said, reportedly revealing that Harris will take the stand. In the courtroom, according to the report, prosecutors also showed a visual of three text messages that Harris is said to have sent to Megan’s bodyguard Justin Edison in the five minutes following the shooting: “Help,” “Tory Shot Meg,” and “911.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, Bott also played a portion of a voicemail in which Tory Lanez apologized and acknowledged he was drunk at the time of the shooting, but did not admit to discharging the gun. Bott also reportedly shared a text that Lanez sent Megan, reading, “I’m sorry from the bottom of my heart… shit should have never happened and I can’t change what I did.”
Tory Lanez’s defense attorney, George G. Mgdesyan, reportedly framed his opening statement around the alleged “jealousy” between Megan Thee Stallion and Kelsey Harris, who he claims both had sexual relationships with Lanez. Mgdesyan also said Megan and Lanez started fighting during a party at Kylie Jenner’s house and that Corey Gamble, who apparently witnessed some of the argument, will take the stand.
Lanez was arrested in July 2020 on a concealed firearm charge, which was later escalated to include charges for assault with a semiautomatic firearm and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle. As trial proceedings began earlier this month, prosecutors added another felony charge for discharging a firearm in a grossly negligent manner.
Megan Thee Stallion named Tory Lanez as her alleged assailant one month after she claimed she had been shot in the foot. She further detailed the experience and her injuries in an April 2022 interview with Gayle King.