The Megan Thee Stallion shooting became one of the most closely followed criminal cases in music after the rapper was shot in the feet during an early-morning incident in Los Angeles in July 2020. What initially appeared to be a confusing police investigation developed into a criminal prosecution involving fellow rapper Tory Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson.

The case attracted enormous public attention because of the people involved, conflicting accounts of the incident, Megan’s delayed public identification of the alleged shooter, and the extensive trial that followed. In December 2022, a Los Angeles jury convicted Lanez on three felony counts. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in August 2023. His conviction was later upheld by a California appellate court in November 2025, and the California Supreme Court declined to review the case in February 2026.

This timeline explains the major events, from the night of the shooting through the investigation, trial, sentencing, appeals, and the current legal status of the case.

Key Takeaways

• Megan Thee Stallion was shot in the feet after a dispute involving people traveling in an SUV in the Hollywood Hills on July 12, 2020.
• Tory Lanez was arrested that morning on suspicion of possessing a concealed weapon and was later charged in connection with the shooting.
• Megan publicly identified Lanez as the person who shot her in August 2020 after initially withholding that information from police.
• A Los Angeles jury convicted Lanez in December 2022 on three felony counts related to the shooting.
• Lanez received a 10-year prison sentence in August 2023 and has maintained his innocence.
• California appellate courts upheld the conviction, and the California Supreme Court declined to review it in February 2026.

Megan Thee Stallion Shooting: Complete Timeline

July 12, 2020: The Shooting

The incident occurred in the early hours of July 12, 2020, in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles.

Megan Thee Stallion, Tory Lanez, Megan’s then-friend Kelsey Harris, and Lanez’s bodyguard were traveling in an SUV after attending a party at Kylie Jenner’s home. According to accounts later presented during the criminal case, an argument developed among the people in the vehicle.

Megan eventually left the SUV. She later told investigators and testified at trial that she was shot as she walked away from the vehicle.

Los Angeles police received a report of gunfire at approximately 4:30 a.m. Officers located and stopped a vehicle matching a description associated with the incident. Multiple people were detained. Lanez was arrested on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon and was subsequently released on bail.

At the time, the police response did not immediately establish publicly who had fired the gun.

Megan Receives Medical Treatment

Megan was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for treatment.

She initially described her injuries publicly as wounds to her feet and later explained that she had undergone surgery. Medical records reported by the Los Angeles Times showed that a foreign object was surgically removed from her heel and that she had a significant wound.

The incident therefore quickly moved beyond a celebrity rumor. It became a documented shooting investigation involving medical treatment, police reports, witness accounts, and eventually criminal charges.

July 2020: Megan Speaks About Being Shot

In the days following the incident, Megan publicly confirmed that she had been shot.

She said she initially did not tell responding officers that she had been shot. She later explained that she was concerned about the possible consequences of involving police and was worried about her safety.

At the scene, officers had encountered several people and a firearm investigation was already underway. Megan’s initial reluctance to identify the shooter later became an important issue during the criminal trial.

August 2020: Megan Identifies Tory Lanez

In August 2020, Megan publicly accused Tory Lanez of shooting her.

This was a significant development because she had not initially identified him to police at the scene. Megan explained publicly that fear and concern about the situation had influenced her initial decision not to identify the shooter.

Her public accusation dramatically changed the story surrounding the case and prompted widespread discussion across the music industry and social media.

August–October 2020: Prosecutors Review the Case

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office reviewed the investigation and requested additional investigative work.

In August, prosecutors said they were considering a possible felony assault-with-a-firearm charge. The LAPD was asked to conduct additional investigation before prosecutors made a filing decision.

By October 2020, prosecutors had formally charged Lanez in connection with the shooting.

The charges included assault with a semiautomatic firearm, possession of a loaded and unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

November 2020: Lanez Pleads Not Guilty

Lanez pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The criminal case then moved toward a preliminary hearing and, ultimately, a jury trial. During this period, the central factual dispute remained who fired the gun and what happened inside and around the SUV.

The case also became a major subject of public discussion, with different accounts circulating online. The eventual trial would require jurors to evaluate testimony, physical evidence, recordings, police evidence, and other information presented in court.

December 2021: Charges Are Upheld

A Los Angeles County judge upheld the assault and weapons charges against Lanez following a preliminary hearing.

During the hearing, a detective testified about Megan’s account of the shooting. According to the testimony reported at the time, Megan said Lanez had fired at her as she walked away from the vehicle.

The decision allowed the criminal case to proceed toward trial.

December 2022: The Trial Begins

Lanez’s trial began in Los Angeles in December 2022, more than two years after the shooting.

The prosecution and defense presented substantially different interpretations of the evidence.

Megan testified about the shooting and identified Lanez as the person who fired the weapon. The defense challenged portions of her account and focused on inconsistencies, the circumstances surrounding the investigation, and the testimony of other people who were present or nearby.

One important witness was Kelsey Harris, Megan’s former friend. Harris’s testimony became complicated because she said she had difficulty remembering portions of the night. Prosecutors were permitted to play a recorded interview in which Harris had previously identified Lanez as the shooter.

The trial also included discussion of an audio recording capturing gunshots and testimony from a nearby resident.

Evidence Considered by the Jury

The jury heard evidence from several sources rather than relying on a single account.

Key categories included:

• Megan Thee Stallion’s testimony
• Testimony and recorded statements from Kelsey Harris
• Police testimony
• Audio evidence involving the gunfire
• Medical evidence concerning Megan’s injuries
• Testimony from people who were nearby
• Evidence concerning the firearm
• Arguments about DNA and other forensic evidence

The defense challenged aspects of the prosecution’s case and raised questions about the investigation and the handling of evidence. The prosecution argued that the combined evidence established Lanez’s responsibility for the shooting.

The differing accounts made the trial closely watched, but the ultimate decision rested with the jury.

December 23, 2022: Lanez Is Convicted

On December 23, 2022, a Los Angeles jury found Tory Lanez guilty on three felony counts connected to the shooting.

The convictions were for:

The verdict followed a trial in which Megan testified about being shot and the defense challenged her account and other evidence.

Lanez continued to maintain his innocence. The conviction nevertheless established the legal outcome of the criminal trial at the trial-court level.

August 2023: Tory Lanez Is Sentenced to 10 Years

In August 2023, Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in California state prison.

The sentence followed his three felony convictions from the 2022 trial.

The sentencing marked another major stage in the case because the legal consequences were no longer limited to the jury verdict. Lanez began serving the prison sentence after the court imposed the punishment.

2024–2025: Further Legal Disputes

The case continued to generate legal activity after sentencing.

Megan later sought protection from Lanez, alleging continued harassment and attempts to undermine her credibility through third parties while he was incarcerated. A Los Angeles judge extended a restraining order through January 2030 in January 2025.

These later proceedings were separate from the original criminal trial and should not be confused with the evidence used to convict Lanez in 2022.

November 2025: California Appeals Court Upholds Conviction

Lanez appealed his conviction.

On November 12, 2025, a three-judge panel of California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected the appeal and upheld the convictions. The appellate court considered arguments involving trial procedure, evidence, witness testimony, and other alleged errors.

The ruling meant the original jury verdict and 10-year sentence remained in place.

The appeals process was important because an appellate court does not simply conduct the same trial again. Instead, it reviews alleged legal or procedural errors and determines whether those errors justify changing the judgment.

February 2026: California Supreme Court Declines Review

Lanez’s legal team subsequently asked the California Supreme Court to review the appellate decision.

In February 2026, the California Supreme Court declined to take up the case. That left the appellate court’s decision intact and meant the conviction and 10-year sentence remained in effect.

This was a significant development in the Megan Thee Stallion shooting case because it exhausted Lanez’s ordinary state-level appellate review.

It does not mean that every conceivable legal avenue is necessarily unavailable. Post-conviction legal procedures can be separate from a direct appeal, and any future proceedings would depend on the claims raised and the applicable legal requirements.

Where the Case Stands Today

As of September 2026, the central criminal judgment remains unchanged: Tory Lanez is serving a 10-year California prison sentence after his 2022 conviction for the three felony offenses arising from the 2020 shooting. His direct appeal was rejected by the California Court of Appeal in November 2025, and the California Supreme Court declined review in February 2026.

Lanez continues to maintain his innocence, but the criminal conviction remains legally in effect.

The case has also continued to generate separate legal disputes involving Megan, Lanez, and people connected to the broader controversy. Those proceedings should be distinguished from the original criminal prosecution because they involve different claims and legal questions.

Why the Megan Thee Stallion Shooting Case Matters

The case became significant well beyond the two artists involved.

First, it demonstrated how a criminal investigation involving major public figures can develop over several years. The initial police response, medical treatment, public statements, prosecution, trial, sentencing, and appeals all occurred at different stages.

Second, the case highlighted the difference between public discussion and courtroom evidence. Social media produced countless theories about what happened, but the jury’s decision was based on evidence admitted during the criminal trial.

Third, Megan’s decision to initially withhold the shooter’s identity became an important part of the public conversation. Her explanation for that decision was also examined during the trial.

Finally, the case illustrates how a verdict can remain contested publicly while still having a clear legal status. Lanez’s conviction was affirmed on appeal, and California’s highest court declined to review it in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did the Megan Thee Stallion shooting happen?

The shooting occurred in the early morning of July 12, 2020, in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles.

Who was convicted in the Megan Thee Stallion shooting case?

Tory Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, was convicted in December 2022 on three felony counts related to the shooting.

What was Tory Lanez convicted of?

He was convicted of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carrying a loaded and unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

How long is Tory Lanez’s prison sentence?

Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in California state prison in August 2023.

Why did Megan Thee Stallion initially not identify the shooter?

Megan later said she was afraid of the potential consequences of involving police and was concerned for her safety. Her initial decision not to identify the shooter became an issue examined during the trial.

Did Tory Lanez appeal his conviction?

Yes. His direct appeal was rejected by a California appellate court in November 2025. The California Supreme Court subsequently declined to review the case in February 2026.

Is Tory Lanez still serving his sentence?

Yes. As of September 2026, he remains incarcerated while serving the 10-year sentence imposed after his 2022 convictions.

Is the Megan Thee Stallion shooting case still legally active?

The original conviction remains in effect, and California’s ordinary appellate review has concluded. Separate post-conviction or other legal proceedings can involve different issues, so later developments should be distinguished from the original criminal trial.

Conclusion

The Megan Thee Stallion shooting case began with a chaotic early-morning incident in Los Angeles in July 2020 and developed into a major criminal prosecution that lasted several years.

Megan received medical treatment after suffering gunshot injuries to her feet. Tory Lanez was arrested at the scene, later charged, and eventually convicted by a Los Angeles jury in December 2022. He received a 10-year prison sentence in August 2023.

The legal process did not end with the verdict. Lanez appealed the conviction, but California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal upheld it in November 2025. In February 2026, the California Supreme Court declined to review the case, leaving the conviction and sentence intact.

For readers trying to understand the case, the most important distinction is between allegations made during the investigation, evidence presented at trial, the jury’s verdict, and subsequent appellate decisions. Keeping those stages separate provides the clearest picture of how the Megan Thee Stallion shooting case developed from a 2020 incident into a long-running legal case.