Tory Lanez Sues California Prison System Over Inmate Stabbing

Tory Lanez has filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Corrections and a corrections officer after a 2025 incident where he was stabbed “approximately 16 times” by a fellow inmate in prison, where he’s currently serving a 10-year sentence for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, is suing for intentional infliction of emotional distress, neglect, and failure to protect, according to documents viewed by Pitchfork. He’s seeking $100 million in damages.

On May 12, 2025, Lanez sustained stab wounds to his back, torso, face, and the back of head that left him with permanent scarring and two collapsed lungs. He was airlifted to Kern Medical Center in critical condition, placed on a ventilator, and hospitalized for his wounds. After getting medical treatment, he was relocated to California Men’s Colony.

The lawsuit, which Lanez filed on April 14 in federal court, claims that both the California Department of Corrections and one of its wardens intentionally housed the rapper with Santino Casio—an inmate serving a life sentence for second-degree murder, and attempted first-degree murder, for the killing of a pregnant 13-year-old runaway—despite him being “a known danger.”

“Despite Casio’s classification as maximum-security violent predator and Peterson’s high-profile celebrity status, which makes him a target, Defendants Does 1-50 and Warden Danny Samuel knowingly housed them together, violating CDCR classification protocols, in accordance with DOM § 62010.10, which calls for decisions to house together or separate inmates by risk factors,” argues the lawsuit. “Correctional staff were not immediately present. It is unknown why response was delayed, allowing full attack. This evidences deliberate indifference to foreseeable violence. Moreover, despite posted warnings within the CCI, force was not used to protect Peterson.”

On August 8, 2023, Lanez was sentenced to a decade in prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion, after being handed three felony convictions the previous December: assault with a semiautomatic handgun, carrying a concealed gun in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm in a negligent manner. Lanez maintained his innocence. In a comment to Pitchfork, her attorney, Alex Spiro, said, “The jury got it right. I am thankful there is justice for Meg.”