He survived a 14-stab prison attack. Now he says the guards are threatening his life.
Rapper Tory Lanez is begging a judge for protection from guards after a near-fatal stabbing led to a $100 million lawsuit.
No one should have to fear for their life while in state custody. Yet a man who barely survived a brutal prison attack says the very people paid to protect him are now his biggest threat.
WHAT HAPPENED
Rapper Tory Lanez has asked a federal judge for a restraining order against a prison guard. Lanez is currently serving time at the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo. He says he is facing constant threats and bad treatment.
Court documents show that Lanez fears a guard plans to move him to a more dangerous housing unit. He claims the guard even brought up a past attack on him to scare him. Last year, another inmate stabbed Lanez 14 times and left him with two collapsed lungs.
Lanez filed a $100 million lawsuit over that stabbing against the state prison system and several guards. Now, he says staff are trying to get revenge for that lawsuit. He wants the court to order the guard to stay away.
WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS
14*: The number of times Tory Lanez was stabbed in a past prison attack.
- 2: Collapsed lungs suffered by Lanez during that stabbing.
- $100 million: The amount Lanez is suing the California Department of Corrections for.
- 1: The number of specific guards Lanez is trying to get a restraining order against.
- 0: The amount of direct contact Lanez wants with this guard, outside of basic prison tasks.
THE BIGGER QUESTION
This story makes us look at how safe our prisons really are. If a famous artist with expensive lawyers cannot stay safe behind bars, what happens to normal inmates?
We must ask how prison staff handle lawsuits from inmates. Do guards use their power to silence people who speak out about violence?
THE OTHER SIDE
State prison officials have not yet filed a formal reply to these new claims in court. In past cases, prison systems usually argue that moving inmates is part of normal security steps, not revenge.
Right now, Lanez's claim relies on his own team's word, and we have not seen independent proof of the guard's threats.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW
A federal judge will look at the filing and decide whether to grant the temporary restraining order. This decision could force the prison to change where Lanez is housed or who guards him.
If the judge says no, Lanez will remain under the watch of the same staff he claims are threatening him.
WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
Did any cameras or other staff members catch the guard making these threats?
- Where does the prison plan to move Lanez, and is that unit actually more dangerous?
- How has the prison changed its security steps since Lanez was stabbed 14 times last year?