A key prosecution witness – believed to be Megan Thee Stallion’s bodyguard – went missing Monday in the trial of rapper Tory Lanez, who is accused of shooting Megan, 27, in the foot.
Assistant District Attorney Kathy Ta didn’t mention the name of the absent witness when she told Judge David Herriford Monday that the preceptors still couldn’t find him.
Her colleague, Assistant District Attorney Alex Bott, would not name him in court either.
But understands the missing witness is Megan’s security guard Justin Edison, who is believed to have testimony crucial to the prosecution’s case.
Megan Thee Stallion’s bodyguard Justin Edison is reportedly still missing after going missing earlier this week amid the ongoing trial of rapper Tory Lanez
Rapper Tory Lanez smiled as he went into court Monday morning for the ongoing trial against him for the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion
Ta asked the judge to allow her to call the witness later if and when he is found, and Judge Herriford told her he would rule on her request later.
Lanez, 30, who wore a black suit and black turtleneck in court Monday, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of assaulting Megan with a semi-automatic firearm, carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle and firing a firearm through gross negligence to have.
The rapper, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, could face up to 18 years in prison if convicted of all three crimes, plus possible deportation.
Megan’s bodyguard Edison went “missing” last weekend, but an official missing persons case has reportedly not been opened by the LAPD.
He was Megan’s best friend and assistant, Kelsey Harris sent texts saying “Help”, “Tory shot Meg” and “911” shortly after the shooting.
And according to prosecutors opening statements at the trial, Edison can testify that Lanez told him the day after the shooting that he put the gun into the ground multiple times.
After his disappearance was reported, LMegan’s attorney Alex Shapiro said: “We recently learned that Justin Edison disappeared just before he was due to appear in court. The LAPD is currently investigating his disappearance and welcomes any information as to his whereabouts.’
Lanez allegedly shot rapper Megan Thee Stallion in the foot after a pool party in July 2020
Lanez’s attorneys claim it wasn’t her client who shot Megan, but someone else who was in the car with the two after the pool party
Megan Thee Stallion shares images of the injuries her foot sustained after Tory Lanez allegedly shot her
Judge Herriford Monday also rejected an offer from prosecutors to add two counts of witness tampering to the three charges already facing rapper Lanez for allegedly shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the feet.
Ta told the court that she would seek new charges based on testimony from Megan and her best friend and assistant Harris that Lanez offered both of them a $1 million “bribe” after the shooting to keep quiet about the incident maintain.
Defense attorney George Mgdesyan vehemently disagreed, saying prosecutors have had “every opportunity” to file new charges since last September, when Harris gave an interview to the Los Angeles Attorney’s Office discussing the $1 million offer .
Judge David Herriford agreed, advising Ta that the trial was almost complete and telling her, “I think you’re putting the defense in an extremely difficult position.”
“It is unfair at this time and I deny this request,” Herriford said.
The Los Angeles Police Department is currently investigating Edison’s disappearance
Megan Thee Stallion’s assistant Kelsey Harris (pictured) revealed Tory Lanez threatened to shoot her before opening fire on the singer’s feet
In her testimony last week, Megan told the jury of seven women and five men that on July 12, 2020, she and Lanez were at a pool party at the home of Kylie Jenner — who could be called as a defense witness — and in his SUV the Hollywood Hills with Kelsey Harris when a falling out broke out.
Megan – real name Megan Pete – asked the driver to stop the car and she got out – after which she said Lanez yelled “dance b**ch” and fired a gun at her multiple times.
The shots injured the rapper’s foot so badly that she needed surgery.
She also testified that Lanez offered her and Harris $1 million to remain silent about the shooting details.
Lanez’s attorneys say her former assistant Harris (pictured above in a court sketch) is the person responsible for the shooting
Lanez – who is out on $350,000 bail – later apologized to her and said he was intoxicated at the time of the shooting.
Meanwhile, his defense team have theorized that it wasn’t Lanez but Harris who fired the gun at the ‘Anxiety’ rapper.
Lanez’s attorneys say Harris shot Megan in a fit of jealousy and anger after she found out the singer had betrayed her by sleeping with Lanez, on whom Kelsey had a crush.
The court heard Monday that Harris wrote a “revenge” song called “Bussin Back” — released in November 2020 — in which she included lyrics meant to “diss” Megan.
The song has lyrics like “Who I’m shooting at – bitch I’ll bust you” and “Imagine lying to the prosecutor and saying I took hush money.”