California Correctional Institution, Tehachapi – Canadian rapper Tory Lanez was rushed to a hospital after being stabbed 14 times in a shocking attack inside a US prison on Monday. The assailant has been identified as Santino Casio, a convicted killer currently serving a life sentence for second-degree murder.
The stabbing occurred in a housing unit at the California Correctional Institution, where Lanez — real name Daystar Peterson — is serving a 10-year sentence for shooting hip-hop artist Megan Thee Stallion in 2020.
Suspect: A Violent Repeat Offender
According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), Casio, 41, has a violent track record both inside and outside prison. Sentenced in 2004 for murder and attempted murder, he has committed multiple offenses during his incarceration, including:
- 2008: Sentenced to 6 years for stabbing a fellow inmate
- 2018: Received an additional 2-year sentence for possessing a deadly weapon
Casio has now been moved to restricted housing as an investigation unfolds into his role in the attack on Lanez.
Medical Emergency: Collapsed Lungs and Multiple Injuries
A statement posted to Tory Lanez’s Instagram revealed the full extent of the injuries. The rapper was reportedly stabbed in the back, torso, face, and head. Both of his lungs collapsed, and he was placed temporarily on a breathing apparatus.
Despite the severity of the attack, Lanez is now reported to be “in good spirits” and “deeply thankful to God that he is pulling through.”
Background: The Megan Thee Stallion Shooting
Tory Lanez was convicted in 2023 of three felony charges related to the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion (Megan Pete), which occurred as the two were leaving a pool party at Kylie Jenner’s residence in Hollywood.
The incident ignited widespread media coverage and debate within the music industry and social justice circles. Lanez, once a chart-topping artist with seven US Top 10 albums, has remained musically active even from behind bars, teasing a new project titled Peterson.
Prison Violence and High-Profile Inmates
This attack highlights the dangers faced by high-profile inmates, even within allegedly secure prison environments. Critics have questioned how someone with Casio’s violent history was able to carry out such a vicious assault.
Lanez’s legal team has not yet issued a formal statement, but fans and celebrities alike have flooded social media with messages of support for the embattled rapper.
Read the full BBC report here.
