Tory Lanez Files $100 Million Lawsuit Against California Corrections Officials After Stabbing Incident
Los Angeles, CA – Tory Lanez, the rapper serving a ten-year prison sentence for the shooting of fellow hip-hop artist Megan Thee Stallion, has filed a federal lawsuit against California corrections officials, seeking $100 million in damages following a severe stabbing incident in prison.
Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, alleges that on May 12, 2025, he was stabbed approximately 16 times by a fellow inmate at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi. According to court documents, the attacker used a homemade weapon, resulting in stab wounds to Peterson’s face, head, torso, and back. The injuries led to permanent scarring and the collapse of both of his lungs.
Following the attack, Peterson was airlifted to a nearby hospital where he required the assistance of a ventilator. After receiving treatment and being discharged, he was transferred to the California Men’s Colony, a different state facility.
In his lawsuit, Peterson contends that prison officials displayed gross negligence by housing him with the inmate who assaulted him, thus violating established protocols for inmate segregation based on risk factors. He argues that the attacker’s known history of violence posed a clear and identifiable danger, making the decision to place them together irresponsible.
Peterson also claims that the response from prison staff was delayed, allowing the assault to escalate. He emphasizes evidence that suggests “deliberate indifference to foreseeable violence,” by the corrections team, effectively endangering his safety within the prison environment.
The California Correctional Institution has faced scrutiny due to an increase in violence, with various high-security sections of California prisons previously placed on modified movement restrictions in March 2025. This action followed a discernible rise in violent incidents affecting both staff and incarcerated individuals, as stated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Additionally, Peterson claims that while hospitalized, prison officials unlawfully seized his books containing unpublished lyrics, which he asserts possess significant commercial value. His lawsuit demands the immediate return of these materials.
In a grievance letter submitted to prison authorities in June 2025, Peterson voiced his concerns about being targeted and exploited by prison staff. He noted the public interest in his case, emphasizing his status as a high-profile celebrity and citing his belief that the attack could have been a calculated effort to steal his intellectual property, valued in the millions.
In December 2022, Peterson was found guilty of three felonies related to the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion, who reported that he shot at her feet during an altercation following a gathering at a celebrity-hosted event. The charges included assault with a semi-automatic firearm and gross negligence, which could have led to a 22-year maximum prison term.
Megan Thee Stallion, known legally as Megan Pete, revealed during the trial that she underwent surgery to remove bullet fragments from her feet.
An appeal to overturn Peterson’s conviction was dismissed by a California court in November, as reported by the Associated Press. As the lawsuit unfolds, Peterson’s legal representative has not yet responded to media inquiries regarding the matter. Meanwhile, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has stated that they do not comment on pending litigation.
This lawsuit, first reported by TMZ, underscores the ongoing legal battles faced by Lanez, as his notable criminal case continues to attract media attention and public scrutiny.
