Rapper Tory Lanez found guilty over shooting of hip hop star Megan Thee Stallion

Rapper Tory Lanez has been found guilty of three firearms offences over the shooting of hip hop star Megan Thee Stallion.

Lanez, 30, was convicted of assault with a semi-automatic firearm; having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle; and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

The charges related to an incident in the Hollywood Hills in July 2020, which left Megan Thee Stallion injured with bullet fragments in her feet.

The pair had been in a car together after leaving a house party in the area, and got into an argument.

Canadian star Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, was found guilty by a jury of seven women and five men after one day of deliberation.

The convictions could see him jailed for up to 22 years.

Dressed in a powder pink winter coat, with matching trousers, a handcuffed Lanez showed no reaction as the verdict was delivered in a Los Angeles courtroom.

Megan Thee Stallion praised for bravery

Lanez’s lawyer alleged during the trial that the shots had actually been fired by a best friend of Megan Thee Stallion, Kelsey Harris, during a jealous fight over Lanez.

“She lied about everything in this case from the beginning,” attorney George Mgdesyan said of the hip hop megastar, who told the trial that Lanez had told her to “dance” before shooting at her feet.

Megan Thee Stallion, whose legal name is Megan Pete, said last week: “I’m in shock. I’m scared.

“I hear the gun going off, and I can’t believe he’s shooting at me.”

She said the pair’s argument had become especially heated when she began insulting his music.

Harris denied being the shooter and previously identified Lanez as the one holding the gun.

Prosecutors had dismissed Mr Mgdesyan’s contention that Megan Thee Stallion had “lied”, and praised her bravery for coming forward about the incident.

Deputy district attorney Alexander Bott said the 27-year-old had endured “a stream of hate” and was a “victim of domestic violence”.

After the jury left the courtroom, Lanez’s father, Sonstar Peterson, leapt up and began shouting, pointing at the prosecutors and declaring them “evil, wicked people”.

He was removed and continued to shout in the hallway.

Who is Tory Lanez?

Lanez began releasing mixtapes in 2009 and eventually moved on to major-label albums.

His last release, Sorry 4 What, debuted at number 10 in the US Billboard charts in September.

One of his previous albums, Daystar, generated significant controversy following its release in September 2020, as Lanez used the record to deny the allegations that he had shot Megan Thee Stallion.

Her success has far outstripped Lanez’s since the incident, including winning a Gramy for best new artist in 2021.

She has had number one singles in the Billboard charts and collaborated with the likes of Beyonce and Cardi B.