Injuries Non-Life-Threatening as Canadian Rapper Attacked at California Correctional Facility

TEHACHAPI, Calif. — Canadian rapper Tory Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, was hospitalized Monday morning, May 12, 2025, after being stabbed by another inmate at the California Correctional Institution (CCI) in Tehachapi, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The incident, which occurred around 7:20 a.m. in a housing unit, left Lanez with non-life-threatening injuries, prompting his immediate transfer to a nearby hospital in Bakersfield for treatment.

Lanez, 32, is currently serving a 10-year sentence for the 2020 shooting of rapper Megan Thee Stallion, a high-profile case that culminated in his conviction in December 2022 on charges of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, carrying an unregistered loaded firearm, and discharge of a firearm with gross negligence. The stabbing incident marks a violent escalation in Lanez’s tumultuous incarceration, which has already seen him navigate prison riots, cell raids, and ongoing legal battles.

According to TMZ, which first reported the incident, Lanez was attacked in the prison yard, though specific details about the altercation or the motive remain unclear. The California Department of Corrections confirmed the attack but provided no further information about the assailant or the circumstances, citing an ongoing investigation. Posts on X reflected a mix of shock and polarized sentiment, with some users expressing concern for Lanez’s safety while others referenced his contentious history with Megan Thee Stallion.

Lanez’s legal team has yet to issue a public statement, but sources close to the rapper told PEOPLE magazine that his condition is stable. The incident comes amid Lanez’s continued efforts to maintain his music career from behind bars, having released his album Peterson in March 2025, recorded entirely in prison. The album, which debuted strongly on Billboard charts, included references to his legal struggles and personal relationships, including a public plea to rekindle a rumored romance with rapper Iggy Azalea.

This is not the first disruption Lanez has faced during his incarceration. In February 2025, a prison riot interrupted a recording session for his Prison Tapes series, and his recording equipment was previously seized during a cell raid in September 2024. Lanez has also been embroiled in legal disputes, including a defamation lawsuit from Megan Thee Stallion, who was granted a restraining order against him until 2030 for alleged harassment through third parties. In February 2025, a judge approved a remote deposition of Lanez as part of that lawsuit, marking the first time Megan would question him under oath since the 2020 shooting.

The stabbing incident raises questions about Lanez’s safety at CCI, where he has been housed since September 2023 after being transferred from North Kern State Prison. While Lanez has maintained his innocence in the Megan Thee Stallion case and pursued multiple appeals, his earliest possible parole date remains September 2029. A Change.org petition demanding his release garnered over 44,000 signatures in 2024, citing new DNA evidence and witness testimony, though California courts have repeatedly denied his appeals.

As the investigation into the stabbing continues, attention turns to how this incident might affect Lanez’s ongoing legal and musical endeavors. For now, the rapper’s team is focused on his recovery, while the public awaits further updates on the circumstances surrounding the attack.