Jury deliberations began Thursday afternoon in the Los Angeles trial of rapper Tory Lanez, who is accused of shooting fellow hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion after an argument in 2020.
Jurors deliberated for about three hours. Before leaving for the day, the jury asked for a “better definition” of “willfully” and “on purpose,” the Los Angeles Times reported.
Jurors are expected to get a written response to their questions when deliberations resume Friday morning.
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Megan Thee Stallion, whose real name is Megan Pete, was shot in the feet after leaving a pool party at Kylie Jenner’s house in the early morning hours of July 12, 2020, prosecutors said.
Lanez was later arrested and charged with assault with a semiautomatic firearm; discharging a firearm with gross negligence and carrying a loaded unregistered firearm in a vehicle; and using a firearm to inflict great bodily injury. The Canadian rapper pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors told jurors a dispute broke out after Megan Thee Stallion got into a Cadillac Escalade with Kelsey Harris, her former friend and personal assistant, and Tory Lanez, born Daystar Peterson.
The two rappers got into an argument after the “Savage” performer “insulted” Lanez’s rap skills, according to prosecutors.
Megan Thee Stallion demanded to be let out of the vehicle. In response, a drunk Lanez became enraged and allegedly fired five shots at her feet, prosecutors said.
“The defendant had a bruised ego because Megan was more successful than him,” Deputy District Attorney Kathy Ta told jurors. “He had a massive ego and could not handle being disrespected.”
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But Lanez’s attorney, George Mgdesyan, countered that Kelsey Harris was “the one who shot her friend,” and alleged Megan Thee Stallion made up a fake story about the shooting. Mgdesyan told jurors Megan thought it was a “better story” to say Lanez shot her, rather than her former friend.
“Megan Pete is a liar. She has lied about everything in this case,” Mgdesyan said.
The defense attorney also claimed the two women were love rivals because both had been sleeping with Lanez.
Both Megan Thee Stallion and Kelsey Harris testified, but Lanez did not take the stand.
The jury of seven women and five men must now decide which version of events they believe.
If convicted on all count, Lanez faces up to 22 years in a California state prison and deportation.
