Rapper Tory Lanez Assaulted in California Prison

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rapper Tory Lanez was hospitalized following a violent incident on Monday at a California prison, where he is currently serving a ten-year sentence for shooting hip-hop artist Megan Thee Stallion in the feet, as reported by authorities.

Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, was assaulted within a housing unit at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi around 7:20 a.m. Pedro Calderon Michel, a spokesperson for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, confirmed the details via email.

Michel refrained from elaborating on the specifics of the attack; however, a message disseminated through the rapper’s Instagram account later that evening disclosed that Lanez had sustained 14 stab wounds, resulting in both lungs collapsing. It was reported that he is currently able to breathe independently.

“Despite enduring significant pain, he remains conversational, in good spirits, and profoundly grateful to God for his recovery,” the post stated, detailing the injuries sustained to his back, torso, head, and face.

Upon receiving immediate medical attention from prison staff, Lanez was subsequently transported to an external hospital. The prison’s investigative unit, in conjunction with the Kern County District Attorney’s Office, is currently conducting an inquiry.

Located approximately 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of Los Angeles amid the Mojave Desert mountains, the prison accommodates around 1,700 medium- and maximum-security inmates.

In December 2022, Lanez was convicted on three felony charges: assault with a semiautomatic firearm, possessing a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

Megan Pete, known professionally as Megan Thee Stallion, testified during the trial that in July 2020, following a gathering at Kylie Jenner’s residence, Lanez fired a weapon at her feet, commanding her to dance as she exited an SUV they had been traveling in.

She suffered injuries from bullet fragments embedded in both feet, necessitating surgical intervention. It was not until months later that she publicly attributed the shooting to Lanez.

Lanez’s attorneys sought a retrial; however, the motion was recently dismissed, and they are currently maneuvering through the appeal process. A request for comment from his legal team has yet to receive a response.

Recently, Megan alleged Lanez was orchestrating harassment from prison via intermediaries, leading to a judge issuing a protective order valid until 2030 to prevent any further contact or intimidation attempts.

The 32-year-old Canadian-born Lanez began his career with mixtapes in 2009 and steadily ascended to prominence, achieving major-label success with two albums that reached the top ten on Billboard charts.

This case ignited considerable discourse within the hip-hop community, illuminating critical issues such as the hesitance of Black victims to engage with law enforcement, gender dynamics within the genre, online vitriol, and the implications of misogynoir, a distinct form of misogyny directed at Black women.

The trial was notably dramatic, marked by the presence of Lanez’s supporters, who contended that he had been wronged by the justice system and the influential figures surrounding Megan, affiliated with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. Upon the announcement of the verdict, Lanez’s father, Sonstar Peterson, vociferously criticized the prosecution, resulting in a tumultuous scene in the courtroom before he later expressed remorse to the judge.

Megan Thee Stallion, 30, had already established herself as a burgeoning star at the time of the shooting, with her popularity soaring post-incident. She received a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2021 and attained No. 1 hits with “Savage,” featuring Beyoncé, and as a featured artist on Cardi B’s “WAP.”