Tory Lanez supporters create petition asking for appeal: 'The justice system failed him'

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- An online petition advocating for rapper Tory Lanez is gaining traction in hopes of getting his conviction overturned after a Los Angeles jury found the 30-year-old guilty of shooting fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion.

Lanez was found guilty of three felonies in the 2020 shooting of Megan. The attack left her wounded with bullet fragments in her feet and Lanez' conviction could send him to prison for more than 20 years.

The Change.org petition titled "Appeal Tory Lanez Verdict Immediately" has garnered more than 37,000 signatures as of Tuesday morning.

It claims "a circus of speculation, insufficient evidence, inconsistencies, and drunken memories" left people "without much moral certainty of any truth."

The jury of seven women and five men deliberated since Thursday before convicting the rapper, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

Jurors also agreed that there were aggravating factors in the attack, meaning Lanez could face up to 22 years in prison and deportation when he is sentenced on Jan 25.

Megan, whose legal name is Megan Pete, testified during the trial that Lanez fired a handgun at the back of her feet and shouted for her to dance as she walked away from an SUV in which they had been riding in the Hollywood Hills in the summer of 2020.

She said the two had gotten into a dispute that became especially heated when she started insulting his music. She needed surgery to remove bullet fragments from her feet.

After the verdict, her lawyer, Alex Spiro said "the jury got it right" and said he was "thankful there is justice for Meg."

Lanez' lawyer George Mgdesyan said they were "shocked by the verdict."

"There was not sufficient evidence to convict Mr. Peterson," Mgdesyan said in a statement. "We believe this case was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt. We will be exploring all options including an appeal."

In closing arguments, prosecutors emphasized the courage it took for Megan come forward and the vitriol the 27-year-old faced for it. They said she had no incentive to tell anything but the truth.

After the verdict, District Attorney George Gascón praised her.

"You showed incredible courage and vulnerability with your testimony despite repeated and grotesque attacks that you did not deserve," Gascón said in a statement. "You faced unjust and despicable scrutiny that no woman should ever face."

Lanez' lawyer alleged in his closing argument that the shots were actually fired by Megan's then-best friend Kelsey Harris in a jealous fight over Lanez, who tried to stop the shooting.

Mgdesyan argued Megan created a more sympathetic narrative by pinning the shooting on Lanez.

"Megan Pete is a liar. She lied about everything in this case from the beginning," Mgdesyan said. "She lied under oath here."

Harris denied being the shooter and previously identified Lanez as the one holding the gun. Her attorney, in an email, declined to comment on her involvement.

Lanez began releasing mixtapes in 2009 and saw a steady rise in popularity, moving on to major-label albums. His last two reached the top 10 on Billboard's charts.

Megan was already a major rising star at the time of the shooting, and her prominence has surged since.

She won a Grammy for best new artist in 2021, and had No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 with her own song "Savage," featuring Beyoncé, and as a guest on Cardi B's "WAP."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.