The man accused of tackling Dave Chappelle at a stand-up show in Los Angeles earlier this month is now accused of stabbing his roommate.
Isaiah Lee, 23, pleaded not guilty Thursday to one count of attempted murder for allegedly stabbing his roommate at a transitional housing facility during a Dec. 2 fight, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said in a press release.
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The stabbing victim identified Lee as the attacker after the suspect’s face was splashed all over the news following the May 3 Chappelle attack at the Hollywood Bowl during the Netflix Is a Joke comedy festival.
“The publicity generated by the attack on Mr. Chappelle helped police solve this crime,” L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement.
After the Hollywood Bowl attack, Lee was arrested and jailed on $30,000 bail. Video posted online showed he had a broken arm after being apprehended by security at the Hollywood Bowl.
Gascón refused to file felony charges against Lee, even though the LAPD said he was carrying a replica handgun with a retractable switch blade when Chappelle was attacked.
Instead, the DA referred the case to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office and Lee was charged on May 5 with one misdemeanor count each of battery, possession of a weapon with intent to assault, unauthorized access to the stage area during a performance and commission of an act that delays an event or interferes with a performer.
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Lee has since been ordered to remain at least 100 yards away from Chappelle, and is due back in a Los Angeles courtroom Friday for a pretrial hearing on the misdemeanor case.
Gascón said his office decided to charge Lee with a felony this time because of the “nature and severity of the December attack” at the housing facility.
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