Suspect in Dave Chappelle Attack at Hollywood Bowl Remains Jailed

LOS ANGELES -- A man accused of attacking comedian Dave Chappelle on stage at the Hollywood Bowl won't face any felony charges in the attack, and his case has been referred to the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office for consideration of possible misdemeanor charges.

Isaiah Lee, 23, of Los Angeles, was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon following his arrest Tuesday night.

Authorities said Lee rushed the stage at the Bowl around 10:45 p.m. Tuesday while Chappelle was performing as part of the Netflix Is A Joke Festival. Online video showed Chappelle being thrown to the ground while the venue's security staff rushed on stage to subdue his assailant. Among those running to protect Chappelle was actor/comedian Jamie Foxx.

According to the LAPD, the suspect was in possession of a replica handgun equipped with a retractable knife blade. The LAPD circulated photos of the weapon Wednesday afternoon.

The suspect tried to scramble backstage after the attack, but was forcefully subdued by security. Subsequent footage showed the bloodied assailant being placed on a gurney and taken away in an ambulance.

Chappelle quickly regained his composure and continued performing. He joked, ``It was a trans man,'' a reference to controversy surrounding some of Chappelle's jokes in a previous Netflix special that some condemned as transphobic. Chappelle also thanked Foxx for helping to subdue the suspect.

The attack was reminiscent of actor Will Smith's assault of comedian Chris Rock during this year's Oscar ceremony. Smith walked on stage at the Dolby Theatre and smacked Rock in the face after Rock made a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Rock, who performed earlier in the show Tuesday night, came on the Hollywood Bowl stage after the assault on Chappelle and joked, ``Was that Will Smith?''

It was unclear how the suspect was able to carry a weapon into the venue.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, who oversees the Bowl, declined to comment extensively on the incident, issuing a statement saying, ``The safety of our artists, visitors and staff is the LA Phil's top priority.

Tuesday's attack occurred on the final night of a four-night engagement of Chappelle and fellow performers at the Bowl as part of the Netflix Is A Joke Festival.

The attack, coming weeks after Will Smith's assault of Rock at the Oscars, has renewed concerns of violence directed against comedians as they perform.

-- City News Service