Tory Lanez, who had been incarcerated for the very public shooting of Megan Thee Stallion, was viciously attacked inside a maximum-security facility. Who was behind the attack? 42-year-old Santino Casio, a convicted murderer with a violent history, according to TMZ. Authorities say Lanez was stabbed 14 times inside a coordinated attack that left him close to death. The dramatic incident has unleashed outrage and worry regarding the safety of VIP inmates in California’s prison system.
A Violent Morning in Tehachapi: Tory Lanez Ambushed in Maximum Security Housing Unit
At approximately 7:20 a.m. on Monday, May 12, California Correctional Institution (CCI) guards in Tehachapi were placed on emergency alert when rapper Daystar Peterson, better known worldwide as Tory Lanez, was attacked in a housing unit by another prisoner. The attacker, later identified as Santino Casio, reportedly struck without warning, stabbing Lanez 14 times before being apprehended by guards.
Prison officials say the response was immediate. Staff members started providing on-scene medical treatment and phoned 911 as they attempted to stabilize Lanez. Lanez was taken to a Bakersfield hospital, where he was listed in “fair” condition, given the severity of his injuries.
Stabbed in the Back, Chest, Head, and Face: The Grisly Toll of the Assault
Lanez’s official Instagram account posted a message shortly after the attack that showed the horrific depth of his injuries. The post claimed the rapper had been stabbed seven times in the back, four times in the torso, twice at the back of his head, and once on the left side of his face.
Santino Casio: The Brutish Lifelong Offender With a Blood-Soaked Legacy
Santino Casio knows a thing or two about prison violence. He exudes it. Admitted to CDCR in 2004 from Los Angeles County, Casio was sentenced to life with parole potential after being convicted of second-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, and a laundry list of enhancements that included the personal use of a deadly weapon.
And that was just the beginning.
In 2008, Casio accumulated another six years for assault with a deadly weapon after already being incarcerated, indicating he’s as much of a threat in prisons as anywhere else. In 2018, he was found guilty again, this time for possession or production of a deadly weapon inside the prison. Casio, authorities say, is a predator who utilized violence as a tool of control, survival, and dominance over decades. Lanez might have been his next victim.
Following the attack, Casio was placed under lockdown housing while an active investigation was completed. The Office of the Inspector General was notified of the incident.
From Platinum Records to Prison Blues: Tory Lanez’s Decline
32-year-old Tory Lanez once topped the charts with multi-platinum hits and worked with music superstars. But in 2023, sky-high success crashed for him when he was handed a 10-year jail term for shooting rapper Megan Thee Stallion in 2020.
A judge found Lanez guilty of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, gun enhancement, and ghost gun possession, an unserialized, traceless, and often indistinguishable firearm, on August 8, 2023. Lanez had fired at his victim, Megan Thee Stallion, while yelling “Dance” when she turned and exited an auto following a party at Kylie Jenner’s residence in the Hollywood Hills.
The assault stunned the music community and brought national attention to celebrity accountability, misogyny, and violence against women.
What Triggers the Assault? Open Questions Suspend Motive and Prison Security
So far, the motive for the brutal stabbing has not been clear. CDCR would not say if there had been any known rivalry between Lanez and Casio before the attack or whether Lanez was attacked for being famous, indicted, or in prison politics.
Prison sources have argued that celebrity inmates, especially convicted women’s offenders, are vulnerable targets for violence. Others ask if Lanez’s fame rendered him a soft target within the vicious, often violent prison pecking order.
The bigger question, however, is how Casio, with his history of violence and prior in-prison convictions, was allowed anywhere near someone like Lanez in the first place.
Under Fire: CDCR Comes Under Fire After Attack on Celebrity Prisoner
Following the attack, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has come under increasing scrutiny. Questions are being raised on how an inmate with a history of multiple previous in-custody crimes and being considered violent was housed anywhere close to a high-profile inmate serving time in a celebrity shooting case.
“That Santino Casio was able to come close enough to stab Tory Lanez is a system failure,” a former warden, who wished to remain anonymous, said. “This wasn’t just preventable. It was preventable.”
As the investigation continues, authorities will be forced to reexamine their housing policies, especially for those inmates with violent pasts and for those inmates under immense public criticism.
Survival, Pain, and Resilience: Lanez Hangs On as Fans Rally Online
Though the attack came close to killing him, Lanez appears to be recovering. Lanez’s Instagram post was defiant, implying strength in the midst of dramatic trauma. “He’s a fighter,” read one insider who knows the rapper in an interview with reporters. “They were attempting to knock him out, but he is not going away.”
Fans worldwide resorted to social media to express solidarity, shock, and indignation. Others criticized the conditions in which Lanez is being kept and demanded the prison system be brought to book.
For now, however, Lanez’s future hangs in the balance. Will he be transferred? Will there be further charges pressed against his attacker? And how will this act of violence impact the remainder of his sentence?
A Harsh Reminder That Fame Is Worthless Behind Bars
It’s a harsh reminder that glory, fame, and wealth are worthless behind bars. Violence is the currency that rules in California prisons, and celebrities are reduced to zero status when the cell doors close.
For Tory Lanez, the scandalous and headline-grabbing tumble that began has become a struggle to survive. Recovering from stab wounds, punctured lungs, and a brush with death at the hands of a convicted felon, one thing is sure. The spotlight can be lost, but the risk has never been more real.
The post Meet Santino Casio: The Convicted Killer Who Just Stabbed Tory Lanez 14 Times in Prison appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.
