Suspect in car dealership stabbing identified and released ahead of trial following domestic incident earlier this month

On October 23, 2024, the DeKalb Police Department received a 911 call from Brian Bemis Toyota dealership regarding a customer who was becoming upset and brandishing a knife.

Police say the man then attacked the employees, and one of them received a non-life-threatening stab wound. Police arrived within five minutes and confronted the suspect, who refused to drop the knife, and police say he approached officers.

The police then shot the person. This individual was identified as Charles M. Tripicchio, 32, of DeKalb.

Tripichhio remains in stable condition at a Rockford hospital and is expected to recover from his injuries. While in hospital, he remains in police custody.

The DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the following charges against Tripicchio:

• Gun violence, a Class X felony
• Attempted armed robbery, a Class 1 felony
• Aggravated Battery, a Class 3 Felony
• Criminal damage to property, a class 4 felony
• Aggravated assault, 3 counts, class A misdemeanor

Once released from the hospital, Tripicchio is scheduled to be transported to the DeKalb County Jail.

At the time of this incident, Tripicchio was released from the DeKalb County Jail on October 10, 2024, pursuant to the pretrial release provisions of the SAFE-T Act on charges of domestic battery, domestic battery resulting in bodily injury, and false restraint in connection with an incident against a family member , which took place at his home on October 9, 2024.

Illinois State Police continue to investigate the use of force against Tripicchio during the incident.