Here we go with the tall tales. Tory Lanez’s recent stabbing inside prison has sparked a storm of controversy, with the man who attacked him claiming he only acted to protect himself.
Santino Cosio, the inmate who stabbed Lanez 14 times, is already serving a life sentence for murder. Speaking out in an interview with TMZ, Cosio insisted the attack wasn’t premeditated but a reaction to what he believed was an imminent threat.
Yeah, okay. Right.
According to Cosio, whispers in the prison circulated that Lanez had put a bounty on his head. Tensions reportedly escalated when the two crossed paths, and Cosio says he noticed something bulging from Lanez’s pocket. “I thought it was a weapon,” Cosio claimed, which led him to strike first. He also said he was injured in the altercation but didn’t go into detail.
Interestingly, the two men weren’t always at odds. They were once housed in neighboring cells and reportedly had a cordial relationship. What caused the rift between them remains unclear, but the fallout was brutal.
So Tory just decided to risk his life and threaten a convicted murderer serving a life sentence? Seems nonsensical even in the different set of rules world of prison.
To recap, Lanez suffered serious nearly life threatening injuries from the attack, including two collapsed lungs, and had to be placed on a ventilator. Prison officials responded quickly, providing emergency care before rushing him to a hospital. While the situation was dire, the Canadian artist is now breathing on his own and expected to make a full recovery.
As you can imagine, Lanez’s legal team, however, isn’t buying Cosio’s self-defense story. In a statement, they condemned the attack as “savage and ferocious,” and blasted Cosio’s claims as “an absurd fabrication.”
They added, “The recent attempt on his life was savage and ferocious, underscoring the clear and present danger he faces while incarcerated. Any claim to the contrary particularly from an individual serving a life sentence for heinous crimes is not only baseless but an absurd fabrication.”
They continued, “His continued confinement is both a miscarriage of justice and a threat to his safety. He must be released immediately.”
The incident has reignited Lanez’s legal push for a pardon, with his team calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom to intervene. So far, the governor has remained silent on the matter. Meanwhile, Megan Thee Stallion, who was shot by Lanez in 2020—a conviction that landed him the 10-year sentence—has publicly criticized his efforts to regain freedom.