Tory Lanez is taking legal action after a violent prison attack he claims nearly cost him his life. The rapper, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, has filed a $100 million lawsuit against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, alleging officials failed to protect him from a brutal stabbing behind bars. According to the complaint, Tory Lanez says prison officials at CCI Tehachapi showed “deliberate indifference” to his safety, ultimately allowing the attack to happen.
Tory Lanez Seeks Millions After Brutal Stabbing Leaves Lasting Damage
The 33-year-old alleges he was stabbed 16 times in May 2025 by fellow inmate Santino Casio, suffering injuries to his head, face, back, and torso. The attack reportedly left Lanez with two collapsed lungs, and he was later seen covered in blood.
Lanez claims the assault has left him with permanent facial scarring, which he argues could impact his career moving forward. As part of the lawsuit, he is seeking significant damages, including what his legal team describes as “$1 million per stab wound.”
“It is reasonable to value his damages, considering his celebrity status and earning potential, at $1 million per stab wound, $10 million due to facial scarring leading to career harm [and] $25 million for pain and suffering,” his legal team wrote.
Lanez Says He Was Housed With A Dangerous Inmate Before The Attack
The lawsuit also raises serious questions about prison protocols. Lanez alleges his attacker, a convicted murderer serving a life sentence, should never have been placed near him.
“The choice to house Casio with Peterson was known or should have been a known danger. Casio is currently serving a life sentence for second-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder for the killing of his 13-year-old pregnant runaway girlfriend while he was on parole,” Lanez’s legal team wrote.
His attorneys argue that prison officials ignored standard procedures meant to separate inmates based on risk factors and violent history.
Tory Lanez Claims Guards Failed To Act As Attack Unfolded
Lanez also claims correctional officers failed to act quickly or effectively once the attack began. “There were not any flash grenades, smoke bombs, or rubber ammunition expelled to stop Casio from stabbing Peterson repeatedly,” the lawsuit alleges. He further claims that his high-profile status made him a target, increasing the risk of violence behind bars.
Beyond the physical injuries, Lanez says the incident has had serious financial consequences. According to the lawsuit, prison officials allegedly seized his songbooks containing unpublished lyrics while he was hospitalized.
“As Plaintiff Peterson was fighting for his life in the hospital, Defendants unlawfully seized Peterson’s original song books containing unpublished lyrics with substantial commercial value,” his lawsuit alleged, adding that the materials, including notes exchanged with his attorney, were never properly logged and have not been returned.
Lanez Attack Caught On Video As He Cries Out During Brutal Stabbing
The lawsuit follows the release of a disturbing video showing the alleged attack. In the footage, Lanez is seen stepping out of a cell before being rushed by his attacker, who repeatedly stabs him as he tries to defend himself. The rapper can be heard screaming “Oh God” during the assault, with no immediate intervention visible in the clip.
Multiple agencies, including the prison’s investigative unit and the Kern County District Attorney’s Office, were reportedly alerted following the incident. However, no official findings from those investigations have been released.
Lanez is currently serving a 10-year sentence after being convicted in 2022 for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. During sentencing, Judge David Herriford addressed the case, stating, “Sometimes good people do bad things. Actions have consequences, and there are no winners in this case.”
Megan testified that Lanez shot at her feet during an argument after a party, later undergoing surgery to remove bullet fragments. “Since I was viciously shot by the defendant, I have not experienced a single day of peace,” she said in a statement read in court. “Slowly but surely, I’m healing and coming back, but I will never be the same.”
Tory Lanez Acknowledged Responsibility Before The Judge Issued The Sentence
Before receiving his sentence, Lanez addressed the court directly, expressing remorse for the incident. “If I could turn back the series of events that night and change them, I would,” he said. “The victim was my friend. The victim is someone I still care for to this day. Everything I did wrong that night, I take full responsibility for.”
He is currently expected to be eligible for parole beginning in August 2029.