Tory Lanez petition gets over 44,000 signatures demanding release of rapper from prison after emergence of DNA evidence and witness testimony

A Change.Org petition demanding the release of rapper Tory Lanez from prison has garnered over 45,000 signatures to date. The boost came after DNA evidence and witness testimony allegedly cleared him of charges related to the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion.

In the petition, fans claimed that Tory Lanez was "wrongfully convicted of assault with a firearm" and sentenced to ten years of prison time despite sufficient evidence allegedly proving his innocence. The petition said:

"The evidence shows that Tory’s fingerprints and DNA were 100% excluded from the gun and the magazine, and he was ruled out as one of the four contributors found on the weapon."

Further, the petition also claimed that testimony from two eye witnesses clarified Lanez's innocence. It said:

"Two eyewitnesses, including the one who made the initial 911 call, have stated that they saw another individual with the gun and that Tory tried to stop this person from shooting. Additionally, Cedar Sinai Hospital has lost the bullet fragments, and, similar to the Alec Baldwin case, the gun in Tory’s case has mysteriously disappeared due to the LAPD."

The petition goes on to accuse California's Attorney General, Rob Bonta, and Governer, Gavin Newsom of being unfair towards Lanez and denying him justice. It alleged that Bonta is "actively working to keep him imprisoned" and get him deported from America due to his immigrant status.

Canadian rapper Tory Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison in August 2023 for allegedly shooting fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion on both legs after an argument in 2020 at the Hollywood Hills. The rapper faced charges of assault with a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm and negligent discharge of a gun.

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Tory Lanez's driver claimed Kelsey Harris had a role to play in 2020 Megan Thee Stallion shooting

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A testimony by the rapper's driver in relation to the 2020 Megan Thee Stallion case came to light recently, after California Attorney General Rob Banta’s Office blocked Tory Lanez's latest appeal claim. The statement was originally released before Lanez's trial in December 2023.

In his statement, Lanez's driver, Jauquan Smith, claimed that he was a witness to the 2020 Megan Thee Stallion shooting. As per Smith, Stallion's friend, Kelsey Harris, had a role to play in the 2020 shooting.

Smith claimed that he witnessed a brawl between Megan Thee Stallion and Kelsey Harris on the night of the shooting. Lanez was allegedly involved in a struggle with Harris moments before the shooting and tried to wrestle the gun from her hands. At this point, the gun was accidentally discharged, hitting Stallion on her legs.

Smith also alleged that the prosecution initially prevented him from making any statements during Tory Lanez's trial. However, legal journalist Meghann Cunniff reported earlier that the Canadian rapper's attorneys did not call Smith as a witness during his previous 2022 trial as his testimony was deemed "unnecessary."

Cunniff also reported that Lanez's attorneys submitted a petition in December 2023, claiming that Smith was previously not included as a witness as his observations were unknown.

Due to Tory Lanez's legal team not inviting Smith as a potential witness previously, the California Attorney General’s Office currently believes the team was aware of his testimony and yet did not bring him in. Therefore, Smith's statements are not considered grounds for new evidence.