The man who stabbed Tory Lanez 16 times had already been convicted inside prison walls twice before the attack ever happened. Once in 2008 for assault by a prisoner with a deadly weapon. Again in 2018 for manufacturing a deadly weapon. Both convictions were on file with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. And still, inmate Santino Casio was housed in the same facility as Lanez.

That is the core of a federal lawsuit Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, filed against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the warden, and guards at California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi. The suit seeks $100 million in damages and alleges the prison knowingly placed a high-profile celebrity alongside a man with a documented history of violent weapon use behind bars.

What Happened on May 12

According to prison officials, Casio attacked Lanez on May 12, 2025, using a homemade shank. The assault was described in the lawsuit as an unprovoked, life-threatening attack. Lanez was stabbed 16 times across his back, torso, head, and face. Both lungs collapsed. He was airlifted to a hospital, arrived in critical condition, and was placed on a ventilator.

Casio is currently serving a life sentence for second-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder. He is not a new or unknown risk. His 2008 assault conviction and 2018 weapons manufacturing conviction were part of his record before Lanez ever arrived at the facility.

What the Lawsuit Actually Claims

The lawsuit argues that the decision to house Casio alongside Peterson was either a known danger or one that should have been identified. It specifically cites Lanez's high-profile celebrity status as a factor that made him a foreseeable target inside the general population.

Beyond the housing decision, the suit also alleges that guards were slow to respond once the attack began and failed to use flash grenades or other standard measures to stop Casio. The $100 million figure breaks down to $1 million per stab wound and $10 million allocated for permanent facial scarring.

Casio did speak publicly after the attack, claiming in a phone call to TMZ that he had heard rumors Lanez wanted him harmed and believed he saw a weapon in Lanez's pocket. Lanez's legal team called that account an absurd fabrication, noting that no weapon was ever recovered from Lanez. As of now, Casio has not been charged for the stabbing.

After the Hospital

Following his hospitalization, Lanez was transferred to California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo County. The lawsuit also claims that during the transfer, his personal belongings were never returned to him, including songbooks containing unreleased music lyrics.

Lanez is currently serving a 10-year sentence after being convicted on firearms charges connected to the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. He is expected to remain incarcerated for years. His attorneys are now asking a federal court to hold the California corrections system financially accountable for the injuries he sustained under their supervision.