A federal judge handed down a verdict on Monday, sentencing a Pittsburgh man to five years in prison and his wife to three years of probation for their involvement in detonating an explosive that injured police officers during a 2023 campus protest over transgender rights at the University of Pittsburgh.
According to the Justice Department’s news release, Brian DiPippa, 37, ignited and dropped two homemade smoke bomb containers among a group of people waiting to enter a building for a scheduled event with guest speakers. Following this, his wife, Krystal DiPippa, 42, concealed him as he ignited and threw a large explosive firework at a group of university police officers who had gathered to create a barrier to stop protesters from entering the rear of the building. The explosion caused injuries to several officers.
The U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Eric G. Olshan, stated that the couple had conspired to harm law enforcement officers and cause chaos at a college campus protest. A campus police sergeant testified in court that she was knocked down by an exploding device while trying to bat it away, resulting in leg burns, hearing loss, and back injuries that required surgery.
“They attacked brave men and women who were trying to maintain order and protect the attendees,” Mr. Olshan remarked. He emphasized that the sentencing should discourage anyone considering engaging in such dangerous conduct in the future.
During the sentencing at U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh, the couple was also ordered to pay $1,400 in restitution to the university and $47,284 to the injured officer. The University Times reported that more than 150 people attended the protest on April 18, 2023, which took place outside a transgender-rights debate between Michael Knowles of The Daily Wire and Brad Polumbo, a libertarian journalist.
In response to the incident, a spokesperson for the University of Pittsburgh, Jared Stonesifer, stated that while the university supports peaceful demonstrations, it will not tolerate threats or acts of violence that endanger others. He acknowledged that the sentencing cannot reverse the physical and emotional injuries sustained by the officers.
The couple, who are from Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty in September to one count of obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder and Mr. DiPippa also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy. Their lawyers expressed regret over the incident, with Michael J. DeRiso acknowledging that his client made a “piss-poor decision” and had no intention of causing harm. Michael Ovens, representing Ms. DiPippa, declined to comment on the case.
