Tory Lanez Stabber Claims He Acted in Self Defense

Two weeks ago Canadian rapper Tory Lanez was stabbed 14 times at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi by fellow inmate, Santino Casio [click here if you missed that]. 

Now Casio is claiming he acted in self defense because Tory put a bag on his head...

From TMZ

The man prison officials say stabbed Tory Lanez multiple times says he thought the rapper was coming to take his life, claiming Tory put a price on his head ... and he simply acted in self-defense.

We had a prison phone call with Santino Casio, who was already serving a life sentence when the Tory attack went down ... and, while he's not denying the stabbing, he says it's not as simple as some might think.

Casio told us he heard rumors through the prison grapevine that Tory had a bounty on him ... and, shortly after, Casio ran into him and thought he saw a suspicious lump in Tory's pocket.

He says he thought it was a weapon -- so, he jumped him, hit him and stabbed him 14 times ... yet Casio claims he wasn't trying to kill Tory.

He told us the whole situation is unexpected, because he and Tory used to be cool -- having a decent relationship while they lived in neighboring cells at California Correctional Institution at Tehachapi.

Casio also says he didn't walk away from the incident scot-free ... claiming he ended up with a stab wound in his leg, which is why he believes Tory had a weapon.