Car dealership stabbing suspect identified and released ahead of trial after domestic incident earlier this month

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

Police said the man then attacked employees, and one employee suffered non-fatal stab wounds. Police arrived on scene within five minutes and encountered a suspect who refused to drop the knife and advanced toward officers, police said.

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

Tripichhio remains in a Rockford hospital in stable condition and is expected to recover from his injuries. While in hospital, he is 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, Class 1 Felony
• Aggravated battery, Class 3 Felony.
• Penalty for Destruction of Property, Class 4 Felony
• Aggravated Assault, 3 counts, Class A Misdemeanor.

Tripicchio is scheduled to be transferred to the DeKalb County Jail as soon as he is released from the hospital.

At the time of this incident, Tripicchio had been released from DeKalb County Jail on October 10, 2024, due to the SAFE-T Act’s pretrial release provisions for Domestic Battery, Domestic Battery Causing Bodily Harm, and Unlawful Restraint charges. Following an incident against a family member at his home on October 9, 2024.

Illinois State Police are continuing their investigation into the use of force used against Tripicchio during the incident.