A federal judge on Monday sentenced a Pittsburgh man to five years in prison and suspended his wife for her role in detonating an explosive that injured a police officer during a 2023 campus protest over transgender rights at the University of Pittsburgh. Sentenced to three years.
The Justice Department said in a news release Monday that the man, Brian DiPippa, 37, was “in and around a line of people waiting to enter the building for a scheduled event featuring a guest speaker. They ignited two homemade smoke bomb canisters and dropped them.”
Afterward, DiPippa's wife, Crystal DiPippa, 42, told a group of university police officers who had gathered to form a barrier to prevent protesters from entering the rear of the university, “Ignite the flames.” “hidden'' where he had “thrown a large explosive firework.'' building. The fireworks caused a loud explosion and injured several police officers, the department said.
Eric G. Olshan, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, said in a news release that the couple “conspired to injure law enforcement officers and cause disruption at a protest on a college campus.”
The campus police sergeant said in court that when he tried to knock the device away, it exploded and he was thrown, leaving him with burns to his legs, hearing loss, and lower back injuries that required surgery. He stated that it happened.
“They attacked brave men and women who were trying to maintain order and protect those in attendance,” Olshan said, adding that Monday's verdict “serves as a deterrent to those who wish to engage in such outrageous and dangerous acts in the future.” It should be,” he added. ”
“It is unfortunate that the government has chosen to define my client by one act,” Michael J. DeRiso, Mr. DiPippa's attorney, said Tuesday.
“Unfortunately, my client made the truly pathetic decision to throw fireworks into the crowd,” he said, adding that DiPippa had “no intention of causing any harm or harm.” DiPippa's lawyer, Michael Ovens, declined to comment on the matter.
The Pittsburgh couple each pleaded guilty in September to one count of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder, and Mr. DiPippa also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, according to the Justice Department.
In a judgment handed down Monday in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh, the couple was ordered to pay $1,400 in restitution to the university and $47,284 to the injured police officer, according to the Justice Department.
The protest, which took place on April 18, 2023, was about transgender rights between Michael Knowles, host of the right-wing site Daily Wire, and liberal journalist Brad Porambo. In addition to the discussion, more than 150 people participated. The university publication “University Times'' reported on the situation at the O'Hara Student Center.
Jared Stonesifer, a spokesman for the University of Pittsburgh, said in a statement Tuesday that the university “supports the right to peacefully demonstrate, but does not condone threats or acts of violence that harm others.”
He added that the latest decision “cannot undo the physical and psychological harm inflicted on these police officers.”
