Canadian rapper Tory Lanez, currently serving a 10-year sentence for shooting hip-hop artist Megan Thee Stallion, was hospitalized on Monday following a brutal assault inside a California state prison.
Lanez, born Daystar Peterson, was attacked around 7:20 a.m. inside a housing unit at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi. While prison officials have not disclosed the exact nature of the assault, a statement later posted to Lanez’s official Instagram account claimed he was stabbed 14 times—in the back, torso, face, and head—and both of his lungs collapsed. Despite the injuries, the post noted he is now breathing on his own, in stable condition, and thankful to be recovering.
Correctional staff responded quickly, administering first aid before transferring him to an external hospital. Authorities confirmed that an investigation is underway, involving both the prison’s internal unit and the Kern County District Attorney’s Office.
The Tehachapi facility, located in the Mojave Desert roughly 100 miles north of Los Angeles, houses approximately 1,700 inmates under medium and maximum security.
Lanez was convicted in December 2022 on three felony charges: assault with a semiautomatic weapon, possession of a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and firing a weapon with gross negligence. The charges stemmed from a July 2020 incident in which Megan Thee Stallion, whose real name is Megan Pete, testified that Lanez shot at her feet and yelled at her to dance while she walked away from an SUV after a party.
Megan later underwent surgery to remove bullet fragments from both feet. Although she did not immediately identify Lanez as the shooter, she later named him publicly, which reignited public debate and media attention.
Lanez’s legal team filed for a retrial, which was denied, and they are currently appealing the conviction. They have not issued any recent public statements.
Earlier this year, Megan accused Lanez of harassing her from behind bars through intermediaries. In response, a judge extended a protective order barring him from making any contact with her until 2030.
Lanez, 32, began his music career in 2009, gaining recognition through mixtapes and eventually signing with major labels. Two of his albums have reached the top 10 on Billboard charts. However, his legal troubles have overshadowed his career, and the case has sparked wide discussions on issues such as the treatment of Black women, gender politics in hip-hop, and online harassment.
The high-profile trial drew strong reactions from both sides. Supporters of Lanez claimed he was unfairly targeted by the justice system, while many stood in solidarity with Megan. Tensions boiled over during the verdict announcement, when Lanez’s father erupted in court and was removed after a heated outburst. He later apologized to the judge.
Since the shooting, Megan’s career has continued to soar. She won a Grammy for Best New Artist in 2021 and secured multiple chart-topping singles, including “Savage” with Beyoncé and “WAP” with Cardi B.
With the recent assault on Lanez now under investigation, his legal saga continues, drawing attention from fans, critics, and the broader entertainment world.