Tory Lanez Files $100 Million Lawsuit Against California Prison System After Violent Stabbing Incident
Rapper Alleges Negligence Following Placement with High-Risk Inmate
Tory Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, is seeking $100 million in a federal lawsuit against the California Department of Corrections.
The legal action comes in response to a May 2025 incident where he was almost fatally harmed after being confined near a perilous inmate. The lawsuit identifies the warden and multiple guards at the Tehachapi facility, contending that they neglected their fundamental responsibility to protect him from recognized dangers.
The particulars of the assault are bleak. Santino Casio, a man already serving a life sentence for murder, unexpectedly attacked Peterson, according to his legal team. In the course of the “unprovoked life-threatening attack,” Casio reportedly employed a makeshift weapon to inflict 16 stab wounds on the rapper, targeting his head, face, and torso. The injuries were extremely severe, resulting in Peterson suffering a collapsed lung and necessitating an emergency airlift to a nearby hospital for life-saving surgery.
The essence of the lawsuit revolves around the prison’s choice to associate a high-profile celebrity with a convicted murderer. “The decision to place Casio with Peterson was either known or should have been recognized as a potential risk,” the lawsuit states.
Peterson’s legal team contends that his notoriety rendered him an immediate target, asserting that the guards present were excessively slow to act during the stabbing, neglecting to employ standard tactical measures to quell the violence.
In addition to the physical trauma, Peterson is alleging that the prison has obstructed his professional prospects. The filing asserts that officials seized his personal songbooks, which hold unpublished lyrics meant for upcoming projects.
The prison has reportedly declined to return the materials, despite requests for their release. Peterson, currently serving a 10-year sentence for the 2022 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion, has been moved to the California Men’s Colony for his safety.
