Rapper Tory Lanez was hospitalized Monday after being stabbed 14 times during an attack by another inmate at a California prison, officials said.
Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, was assaulted around 7:20 a.m. at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi, about 75 miles north of Los Angeles, according to Pedro Calderón Michel, a spokesperson for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The 32-year-old Canadian rapper sustained stab wounds to his back, torso, head and face, causing both lungs to collapse, according to a post on his official Instagram account. He was initially placed on a breathing apparatus but is now able to breathe unaided.
“Despite being in pain, he is talking normally, in good spirits, and deeply thankful to God that he is pulling through,” the statement said.
Prison staff provided first aid before Lanez was transported to a local hospital for further treatment. Officials have launched an investigation into the incident, but no motive has been disclosed.
Lanez is serving a 10-year sentence for the 2020 shooting of fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion, whose legal name is Megan Pete. He was convicted in 2023 on three felony charges, including assault with a semi-automatic firearm.
The shooting occurred following an argument after a pool party at reality TV star Kylie Jenner’s home in the Hollywood Hills. Megan testified that Lanez shouted at her to “dance” before shooting at the ground, injuring her foot. She later required surgery to remove bullet fragments.
Lanez has maintained his innocence and declined to apologize during sentencing. The case sparked widespread debate within the hip-hop community, with several prominent artists publicly taking sides and some, including 50 Cent and Iggy Azalea, writing to the court requesting leniency.
Before his conviction, Lanez had achieved seven top 10 albums in the U.S. and had recently teased a new project titled Peterson, reportedly created while incarcerated.