Man who attacked Dave Chappelle on stage charged with stabbing roommate months earlier

The young man who tackled Dave Chappelle on stage had stabbed his roommate months earlier, authorities said Thursday.

Isaiah Lee, 23, has been charged with attempted murder for the December attack on the unnamed roommate, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said in a press release.

“The publicity generated by the attack on Mr. Chappelle helped police solve this crime,” District Attorney George Gascón said in the statement.

Isaiah Lee is now accused of stabbing his roommate months before attacking Dave Chappelle.

Lee stood up from the audience and jumped on Chappelle near the end of his set on May 2 at the Hollywood Bowl as part of the “Netflix Is a Joke” festival.

Security at the event quickly detained Lee. Chappelle, 48, looked somewhat shaken but was unfazed enough to continue his performance.

Dave Chappelle appears during the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on October 30, 2021 in Cleveland. (David Richard/AP)

The roommate who was stabbed Dec. 2 saw information about Chappelle’s attack in May and also recognized Lee as his attacker, prosecutors said. The two lived in a transitional apartment at the time.

When Lee attacked Chappelle, he was carrying a fake gun with a real knife, police say. Cops have not publicly speculated on his motive.

This photo combination provided by the Los Angeles Police Department shows the fake handgun with the real knife blade inside that was taken from the man who attacked comedian Dave Chappelle at the Hollywood Bowl on Tuesday May 2, 2022. (AP)

Lee got off with four misdemeanor charges for the surprise attack on Chappelle, but he faces a much longer prison sentence if convicted of attempted murder.

Lee pleaded not guilty on Thursday and is due back in court on June 2.