California prison officials are denying responsibility for the stabbing of Tory Lanez, arguing that the rapper consented to his housing assignment and accepted the risks associated with it.
Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, is seeking $100 million in damages after being repeatedly stabbed by fellow inmate Santino Casio at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi.
The attack occurred on 12 May 2025 and left Lanez with life-threatening injuries.
In a court filing submitted on 7 October, acting warden Thomas Valdez denied that prison officials violated Lanez’s constitutional rights or caused his injuries.
Valdez is one of several defendants named in the federal lawsuit.
Warden argues Lanez accepted housing risks
The filing, submitted through the California attorney general’s office, claims Lanez “consented to his prison housing classification and assignment and assumed any risk alleged to be associated with that housing”.
It does not reportedly explain when Lanez gave his consent, what alternatives were available or which specific risks were disclosed to him.
Valdez also argues that Casio’s alleged criminal actions were a “superseding, intervening cause” of the rapper’s injuries.
The filing claims Lanez contributed to his injuries through his own “acts, omissions and legal fault”, although it does not provide detailed allegations explaining what he supposedly did.
Valdez is seeking qualified immunity, arguing that his conduct was objectively reasonable and did not violate any clearly established constitutional or statutory rights.
Tory Lanez alleges officials failed to protect him
Lanez’s lawyers have described the stabbing as an “unprovoked life-threatening attack”.
His lawsuit alleges that prison officials knew, or should have known, that housing him with Casio presented a serious danger.
Casio is serving a life sentence for second-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. He also has previous convictions involving prison weapons and violence.
“The choice to house Casio with Peterson was known or should have been a known danger,” Lanez’s lawsuit argues.
The complaint also alleges that correctional officers were slow to intervene while the attack was taking place.
Lanez was stabbed approximately 16 times in the back, torso, head and face with a homemade weapon, according to the lawsuit.
He suffered a collapsed lung, was airlifted to hospital and required emergency treatment.
Inmate claimed self-defence
Casio has claimed that he attacked Lanez in self-defence after hearing rumours that someone had placed a bounty on his life.
He reportedly said he became suspicious after noticing what appeared to be a large object in Lanez’s pocket.
Lanez’s lawyers dispute that version of events and maintain that the attack was unprovoked.
No criminal charge against Casio arising from the stabbing has been publicly reported.
Case remains active
Lanez filed his federal lawsuit in April 2026 against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, prison officials and correctional officers.
In addition to negligence and failure-to-protect claims, the lawsuit alleges officials improperly confiscated notebooks containing valuable unpublished lyrics.
Following the stabbing, Lanez was transferred to California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo County.
He is serving a 10-year sentence after being convicted of three felonies for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the feet in 2020.
The warden has asked the court to reject Lanez’s claims and requested a jury trial. No final ruling has been issued.
Discover more from Daily Mast
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
