A legal team representing Tory Lanez is petitioning for a pardon, arguing that new evidence could prove the rapper did not shoot Megan Thee Stallion during the high-profile 2020 incident that led to his conviction.
On Wednesday (May 14), non-profit legal organization United the People held a press conference to publicly advocate for Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson. The group claimed Lanez was denied a fair trial, citing media pressure, political influence, and alleged procedural misconduct.
“Mr. Peterson was never given a fair trial, free from bias, political interference, and media-driven pressure,” the organization said in a statement.
Attorney Walter Roberts, speaking on behalf of the group, presented what he claimed is evidence pointing to another shooter: Megan’s former friend and assistant, Kelsey Nicole Harris.
“Harris fired at [Megan] three times,” Roberts alleged. “Mr. Peterson grabbed her arm and knocked it down, and the gun fired two more times. In essence, Mr. Peterson never shot anybody. He never even touched them. He never fired the gun.”
Roberts cited testimony from independent witness Sean Kelly, who told the court during the trial that he saw “two women fighting”—a point the defense has repeatedly highlighted to suggest reasonable doubt.
Roberts also criticized how forensic evidence was handled: “There were three potential suspects in the car that night, yet the only DNA sample taken was from Mr. Peterson, even though unknown DNA was found on the gun.”
The press conference also featured remarks from Diana London, CEO of the Secret Weapon Agency and a former congressional advisor on criminal justice reform.
“As a woman who has worked in Congress on criminal justice reform, I deeply believe in law and order,” London said. “But the legal system without integrity is no justice at all. When courts fail the people they’re meant to protect, we don’t just ruin lives—we erode trust in the rule of law.”
“This isn’t about celebrity. It’s about fairness,” she continued. “Tory Lanez doesn’t want special treatment—he wants equal treatment. If we still believe in proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, this case raises serious concerns. He’s serving a 10-year sentence for a crime the evidence overwhelmingly suggests he did not commit.”
Lanez’s father, Sonstar Peterson, also addressed the media, expressing frustration with how the case was handled and accusing high-profile attorney Alex Spiro—who represented Megan Thee Stallion—of leading a campaign to vilify his son in the public eye.
“At that point, God said there was a time to be silent and a time to speak. We chose to be silent,” Sonstar said. “But now, we’ve been silent for way too long.”
He claimed the trial was influenced by decisions made “behind closed doors” and appealed directly to California Governor Gavin Newsom to intervene.
“Sir, it is in your hand to do something about this,” Sonstar said. “You have the power and the means to examine the evidence. This is a travesty of justice.”
Tory Lanez was convicted in December 2022 on three felony charges, including assault with a semiautomatic firearm, for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot following an argument after a party in the Hollywood Hills. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in August 2023. Lanez has maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings.
No response has been issued by Megan Thee Stallion or her legal team regarding the latest claims.
Source: Instagram
