Alleged attacker of Dave Chappelle charged with attempted murder from December stabbing
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By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
The man accused of tackling comedian Dave Chappelle onstage in Los Angeles earlier this month was charged with attempted murder stemming from a December incident involving his roommate, authorities said.
In a news release on Thursday, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon announced that Isaiah Lee, 23, was charged with attempted murder for allegedly stabbing his roommate on Dec. 2, 2021.
Gascon said his office decided not to charge Lee for a misdemeanor assault that involved an onstage incident with Chappelle at the Hollywood Bowl, and instead referred that case to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office.
“The publicity generated by the attack on Mr. Chappelle helped police solve this crime,” Gascon said in a statement. “The incident that occurred at the Hollywood Bowl was misdemeanor conduct and rightfully referred to the City Attorney’s Office. Based on the nature and severity of the December attack, Mr. Lee is now facing felony charges which my office will prosecute.”
Lee pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder charge on Thursday and will return to court on June 2, Gascon said.
Lee was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on May 3, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
According to KABC-TV, the Hollywood Bowl incident occurred at about 10:45 p.m. PDT. Witnesses said a man, later identified as Lee, charged at Chappelle, 44, near the end of his performance at the show, “Netflix Is a Joke Presents: Dave Chappelle and Friends,” The New York Times reported. Security guards quickly intervened.
According to KNBC-TV, Lee used a replica gun that could eject a knife blade.
Lee did not use the weapon in the assault and Chappelle was not injured, so a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon was not warranted, the district attorney’s office said.
Chappelle was not injured, but Lee was taken to an area hospital with “superficial injuries,” the television station reported.
A motive for the attack on Chappelle has not been released.
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years Here are some memorable photos of comedian Dave Chappelle through the years. (Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2002: Actor and comedian Dave Chappelle attends the world premiere screening of Universal Pictures' "Undercover Brother" at Loews Cineplex Universal Studios Cinema on May 30, 2002, in Universal City, California. (Robert Mora/Getty Images)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2003: Winner for "Best New Series," actor and comedian Dave Chappelle, celebrates onstage during Comedy Central's first-ever Awards Show "The Commies" held on November 22, 2003, at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2004: Comedian Dave Chappelle at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards at the American Airlines Arena on August 29, 2004, in Miami. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2006: Comedian Dave Chappelle signs DVD copies of "Dave Chappelle's Block Party" on June 13, 2006, in Culver City, California. (Chad Buchanan/Getty Images)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2007: Comedian Dave Chappelle watches the 2007 NBA All Star Game on February 18, 2007, at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2008: In this Monday, Jan. 21, 2008, file photo, comedian Dave Chappelle attends the Democratic presidential debate sponsored by CNN and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2013: Comedian Dave Chappelle, right, poses for photographs with fans during halftime of Game 3 of a Western Conference semifinal NBA basketball playoff series between the Golden State Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs in Oakland, Calif., on Friday, May 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2014: Comedian Dave Chappelle attends the 2014 GQ Men of the Year party at Chateau Marmont on December 4, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Jason Merritt/Getty Images for GQ)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2015: Elaine Chappelle (left) and Dave Chappelle attend the SNL 40th Anniversary Celebration at Rockefeller Plaza on February 15, 2015, in New York City. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2016: Comedian Dave Chappelle attends the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 28, 2016, in Beverly Hills, California. (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2017: Dave Chapelle speaks onstage at Rihanna's third annual Diamond Ball Benefitting the Clara Lionel Foundation at Cipriani Wall Street on September 14, 2017, in New York City. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Clara Lionel Foundation)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2018: Comedian Dave Chappelle speaks onstage during the 90th annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 4, 2018, in Hollywood, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2019: Comedian and honoree Dave Chappelle attends the 22nd annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center on October 27, 2019, in Washington, D.C. (Paul Morigi/Getty Images)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2019: Dave Chappelle arrives at Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 22nd annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in Washington on Oct. 27, 2019. (Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP, File)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2020: Ne-Yo (left), T.I., Dave Chappelle and Kevin Hart attend 2020 Roc Nation THE BRUNCH on January 25, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Erik Voake/Getty Images for Roc Nation)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2021: Dave Chappelle speaks onstage during the 36th annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 30, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
Photos: Dave Chappelle through the years 2022: Dave Chappelle looks on during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 20, 2022, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)