Convicted inmate Santino Casio, the man behind the brutal stabbing of Canadian rapper Tory Lanez, has broken his silence. Speaking to TMZ, Casio shared shocking details behind the incident that left Lanez critically injured and fans searching for answers.
Casio is currently serving a life sentence stemming from a 2004 conviction for second-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder, per ABC7 Los Angeles. His sentence was extended in 2008 and again in 2018 due to violent offenses committed while incarcerated.
According to his account, prison gossip led him to believe his life was in danger. Casio claimed he heard through the “prison grapevine” that Tory Lanez had placed a hit on him. His paranoia escalated when he noticed what he called a “suspicious lump” in Lanez’s pocket during an encounter on May 12, which led him to believe the rapper was armed.
“I thought he was going to take me out,” Casio told TMZ. “So I did what I had to do.”
After the stabbing, Lanez was rushed to a civilian hospital in Bakersfield, located 40 miles from the prison. Reports confirm that he suffered collapsed lungs and was in critical condition. Thankfully, he is expected to make a full recovery.
In a swift response, Lanez’s legal team dismissed Casio’s narrative, calling it an “absurd fabrication.”
“The recent attempt on his life was savage and ferocious, underscoring the clear and present danger he faces while incarcerated,” their statement read. “His continued confinement is both a miscarriage of justice and a threat to his safety. He must be released immediately.”
As of now, Tory Lanez has been transferred to another prison facility, NewsNation reports.
The public’s response to Casio’s account has been anything but supportive. Many fans took to social media to criticize the fact that an inmate responsible for such a violent act was still able to communicate with the press.
“Why isn’t this man in solitary?” one fan commented. “How is he making calls after nearly taking someone’s life?”
Others suggested a larger conspiracy behind the attack, with some pointing fingers at high-profile figures. “Yeah, yeah, we know Roc Nation did it,” said one user sarcastically.
In The Neighborhood Talk’s Instagram comment section, several users outright called Casio’s story false, labeling him as a liar who fabricated a motive to justify the stabbing. One commenter wrote, “Cap. Why when you ain’t never leaving? Be for real.”
Another suggested Casio was paid to carry out the attack:
“Nah, it’s the other way around. You were paid to take him out, but GOD has Tory covered.”
As the dust settles, many questions remain unanswered. Why was Casio able to speak to the media? Was there any evidence to back his claims of a hit? Or is this just another disturbing chapter in a high-profile inmate’s long and violent prison history?
