Early morning, around 7:20 a.m., on May 12, 2025, there was a fierce struggle at Tehachapi’s California Correctional Institution. Daystar Peterson, a 32-year-old rapper from Canada who operates under the stage name Tory Lanez, was repeatedly stabbed 14 times in a living area. The victim was seriously wounded, suffering from seven stab wounds in his back, four in the chest region, two at the rear part of his head, and one facial wound, which sent his two lungs into collapse. The authorities moved swiftly, calling for emergency procedures and rushing Lanez into a nearby hospital. He is now in fair condition, breathing on his own and reportedly in good spirits.
The alleged assailant, 42-year-old Santino Casio, was placed in restricted housing as the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and Kern County District Attorney’s Office launched investigations.
Casio, serving a life sentence with parole possibility for second-degree murder since 2004, claims he acted in self-defense. In a prison phone call, he recounted hearing rumors that Lanez had placed a bounty on his head. On the morning of the attack, Casio alleges Lanez approached his cell with a suspicious bulge in his pocket, which he believed was a weapon.
“I just came out in the morning to tell him good morning… I asked if everything is good… he said yes… when I was going back into my cell, he was walking towards my door… when he showed me what he had in his pocket, I just rushed him,”.
He admitted to stabbing Lanez 14 times but insisted he did not intend to kill him, claiming he felt threatened after sustaining a stab wound to his leg during the altercation.
Notably, no weapon was recovered from Lanez, and Casio’s claim of a bounty remains unverified. Casio’s history complicates his narrative: he has prior convictions for in-prison assaults in 2008 and weapon possession in 2018.
Lanez, who was found guilty in 2023 of shooting Megan Thee Stallion, remains a divisive figure. His lawyers have branded Casio’s allegations “baseless” and contend that Lanez lives under increased threat as a celebrity prisoner. A petition for a pardon for Lanez has been signed by more than 268,000 people on the website Change.org, driven by accusations of prosecutorial misconduct. Megan Thee Stallion has complained about continued harassment and disinformation about the case.
Casio and Lanez were once on friendly terms, having been cell neighbors for two years.
“We chilled, ate, drank, partied,”
Casio recalled, noting their relationship soured after he confronted Lanez about the alleged bounty rumors.
The incident underscores the dangers of misinformation in prisons, where informal communication networks, or “grapevines,” amplify rumors. In high-stress environments with limited information, unverified claims can trigger violence, as seen in Casio’s reaction to the alleged bounty. This dynamic reflects broader challenges in managing inmate relations and ensuring safety, particularly for high-profile figures like Lanez.
The CDCR inquiry continues, and Lanez’s attorneys are pushing for his well-being and relocation to a secure facility. In New Orleans, accomplice arrests, including a jail maintenance official, have sharpened questions about prison management. The incidents have evoked calls for prison reform addressing prison safety and disinformation.
