Rapper Tory Lanez has pleaded not guilty to charges that he shot Megan Thee Stallion during a heated argument earlier this year.
A lawyer entered not guilty pleas Wednesday on behalf of the 28-year-old, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, for one felony count each of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, according to CBS Los Angeles.
The incident took place on July 12. Lanez was in an SUV with Megan Thee Stallion, whose legal name is Megan Jovon Ruth Pete, when they got into a heated argument. She then exited the vehicle and began walking away at which point Lanez reportedly fired several shots at her feet and wounded her. Lanez was arrested shortly after the alleged shooting and charged on Oct. 8.
Megan Thee Stallion spoke up about the incident in an October guest column published in The New York Times.
"I was recently the victim of an act of violence by a man," she explained. "After a party, I was shot twice as I walked away from him. We were not in a relationship. Truthfully, I was shocked that I ended up in that place."
The "WAP" hitmaker identified her shooter as Lanez on Instagram Live.
"You shot me," she said, addressing the rapper, according to CNN. "And you got your publicist and your people going to these blogs lying and s---. Stop lying. Why lie? I don't understand."
If convicted, Lanez could face up to 22 years and eight months in state prison. The next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 20 and he remains free on $190,000 bail.
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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