Supporters of Megan Thee Stallion are set to rally outside a courtroom in Los Angeles on Tuesday as the Grammy-winning hip-hop star prepares to testify in the trial of rapper Tory Lanez, who is accused of shooting Megan in the foot on July 12, 2020.
The Gathering for Justice, a nonprofit organization founded in 2005 by singer Harry Belafonte, is joining forces with women’s advocacy groups and violence prevention organizations, including the Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium, 2nd Call, Homies Unidos, Take Charge, Inc., COMMUNITYx, Inc. and TimeDon to voice their support for the “Savage” hitmaker as she is expected to recount the events that led to the alleged shooting.
A source confirmed to ABC News that Megan Thee Stallion, whose legal name is Megan Pete, is expected to testify on Tuesday.
“As an organization that values dignity, justice and liberation, we — along with many organizations — are gathering [Tuesday] to show our solidarity for Meg and support her with our love,” said Carmen Perez-Jordan, president and CEO of The Gathering for Justice, in a statement. “We are committed to spreading the message that violence is not the answer. We know the time is now to advocate for victims of violence, particularly violence against Black women.”
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Jury selection in the trial of Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, took place last week and opening statements and testimony are set to begin on Monday.
According to prosecutors, Lanez “personally inflicted great bodily injury” upon Megan Thee Stallion after the two got into an argument while riding in an SUV in the Hollywood Hills, resulting in an injury to her foot for which she received medical treatment.
Lanez, a popular rapper, was initially charged in October 2020 with one felony count each of assault with a semi-automatic firearm (personal use of a firearm) and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, according to charging documents obtained by ABC News. “Personal use of a firearm” is not a separate charge but a sentencing enhancement linked to the first count that increases Lanez’s possible sentence.
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Lanez was charged last week with an additional felony count of discharging a firearm with gross negligence, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office confirmed to ABC News.
Lanez pleaded not guilty to all three counts.
“We are confident that at the conclusion of this trial the truth will come out and Mr. Peterson will be exonerated of all charges,” Lanez’s attorney, Sarkis Manukyan, told ABC News Tuesday.
If he is convicted as charged, he faces up to 22 years and 8 months in prison, according to prosecutors.
3. Prosecutors alleged after Megan called Tory Music trash, she exited out of the vehicle & Tory exited too. Tory then shouted “dance bitch” and fired 5 shots emptying the clip. Megan was hit in both feet.
4. While Bleeding, Megan limped for cover at a resident near by
— No Jumper (@nojumper) December 12, 2022
6. Prosecutors alleged that Tory Lanez then demanded they both get back into the SUV. Megan and Kelsey complied with his wishes
7. When they got back in the car, Kelsey sent a text to Megan security guard Justin Edison “Help, Tory shot Meg, 911”
— No Jumper (@nojumper) December 12, 2022
9. When the police pulled over the SUV Tory and Meg was in they located a “warm” firearm in a “slide lock position” which indicates every bullet in the firearm had been used
10. Prosecutors played an audio of Tory‘s call from jail to Kelsey. He apologized profusely!
— No Jumper (@nojumper) December 12, 2022
13. These are accounts of the Prosecutors opening statements. Tory is still innocent until proven guilty
— No Jumper (@nojumper) December 12, 2022
"I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart … shit should have never happened and I can't change what I did." – Lanez alleged text message to Megan the day after the shooting. In a recorded jail call, Lanez also was apologetic and said he was drunk at time of incident.
— James Queally (@JamesQueallyLAT) December 12, 2022
Bott says things got heated between Megan and Lanez in the car because Megan insulted his skills. (Ironically, Lanez's record about the shooting later in 2020 was far and away his worst received by critics.)
— James Queally (@JamesQueallyLAT) December 12, 2022
Defense case, as expected, seems to be wandering towards an alternate shooter theory. Mgdesyan has yet to accuse Kelsey of shooting Megan, but did say they had a physical fight at the scene.
— James Queally (@JamesQueallyLAT) December 12, 2022
