Tory Lanez’s team pushes for pardon, cites new evidence blaming Kelsey Harris in Megan Thee Stallion case

Currently in prison, Rapper Tory Lanez is serving a 10-year-long sentence in California prison. He was accused and convicted for shooting Megan Thee Stallion back in 2020 and arrested for the same on August 8, 2023. But now, his team is asking for a second chance allegedly citing evidence that it was not him who shot her. Tory’s lawyers are reportedly trying to get a pardon, which means that they want the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, to let him go. They claimed that the trial wasn’t fair because someone else might have been responsible for the shooting, and that Tory is being punished unecessarily.

This incident occcured in July of 2020. While leaving a party in Los Angeles, Tory Lanez, Megan, and Megan’s friend Kelsey Harris, became embroiled in a fight in which Megan got shot in the foot. She accused Tory of shooting her which led to his his trial in 2022. The court found him guilty of three offenses: using a gun to hurt someone, carrying a gun he wasn’t allowed to have, and being careless with the weapon. The verdict sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Tory Lanez was Attacked in Prison

Tory Lanez was attacked in prison this Monday morning, on May 12. Reports suggest that he was stabbed 14 times, in his face, back and chest leading to serious injuries. His lung collapsed and he had to be taken to the hospital.

Lanez's lawyers are reportedly worried, trying their best to prove his innocence and get him out of prison. According to reports, they have expressed their concerns regarding his safety in the institution while also arguing that he should never have been sent to prison in the first place. On May 15, they appealed to the Governor Gavin Newsom for pardon, which implies that they want the entire case dismissed so that Tory can walk as a free man.

Tory Lanez's lawyers claim that someone else pulled the trigger that night. They believe it was Kelsey Harris, Megan’s old friend not Tory. According to them, Megan and Kelsey were the ones who became involved in the fight. Furthermore, they also claim that Tory actually tried to stop the fight and stop the gun from going off. As per the reports, a man named Sean Kelly, who lives near where the incident took place, said he saw two women fighting outside that night. Tory’s team says this corroborates their version of the narrative.

Walter Roberts, who is working closely with the legal group "Unite The People", said that a man named Bradley James came to them a few months ago. James claimed he was the Kelsey Harris' bodyguard, who was Megan Thee Stallion’s friend at the time of the shooting. Roberts claimed that James told them he once overheard Kelsey say that she was the one and not Tory Lanez who fired the gun. According to Roberts, James said that Tory tried to stop her by knocking the gun down.

James did not speak at the press conference. Futhermore, Lanez’s team has not yet taken this claim to the current District Attorney, Nathan Hochman. Megan Thee Stallion’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, strongly disagreed with these new claims. He said:

“Tory Lanez was tried and convicted by a jury of his peers and his case was properly adjudicated through the court system.”

Spiro added,

“This is not a political matter — this is a case of a violent assault that was resolved in the court of law.”

What is Next For Tory Lanez?

Many fans believe that Tory is innocent. A petition to free him has received over 45,000 signatures by now. A group named “Unite the People,” which fights for justice, is also helping the cause. They reportedly believe that the trial was unfair and that Tory deserves another chance. Tory Lanez's lawyer said their goal now is to convince the governor to either let Tory go or at least reduce his sentence.

Right now, Tory is still in California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi. After he was attacked, he was taken to the hospital. As of now, he is back in jail, recovering. His legal team is still fighting to get him out. Currently, Tory is not allowed to ask for parole (early release) until 2029. This means that he still has a few more years to go unless something changes. His team hopes that the alleged new evidence and public support will help his case.

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