A Jefferson County man was awarded nearly $4.3 million Thursday after suing the man who stabbed him multiple times in 2022.

David Mello sued 53-year-old Richard Gribble for $4,286,713 after an incident that occurred between the two on Sept. 9, 2022. A Jefferson County District jury settled the civil case — which was filed on June 5, 2023 — earlier this week in front of Judge Chantel Contiguglia.

The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 9, 2022 outside of Mello’s home in Littleton. Mello was watching television with his wife when he heard a motorcycle outside of the home, according to arrest records.

Mello had been friends with Gribble, but had had a recent fallout when Mello recommended a mechanic to Gribble that ended up doing a bad job. After, Gribble had threatened Mello and said after he was done with him, he would be known as the “Exterminator,” according to Gribble’s arrest affidavit.

Gribble had been a prospect for the Sons of Silence motorcycle club, according to Mello’s wife. Gribble had allegedly gone “crazy” after a meeting at the clubhouse involving Mello and was stripped of his patch, meaning he was kicked out of the club. Gribble had been “humiliated,” according to arrest records.

Mello went outside of the home and told Gribble to leave, according to the civil complaint. Gribble then rode his motorcycle into Mello. The two fell to the ground in a fight and Gribble stabbed Mello “multiple” times in the abdomen, leaving injuries the victim is still suffering from.

Gribble was arrested by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office on suspicion of first-degree assault, possessing an illegal weapon and violating a protection order. He was later charged with second-degree attempted murder by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office

Mello sued Gribble for emotional and physical damage. Gribble’s defense attorneys demanded a jury trial and claimed that Gribble had stabbed Mello out of self-defense during the fight, according to court records.

Ultimately, Gribble was found by the jury to have purposely caused the damages.

Furthermore, Gribble was found guilty of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault and illegal use of a weapon after a criminal trial on Oct. 21, 2024. He was officially sentenced to 18 years in prison on Feb. 14, 2025, concurrently with an unrelated sentencing in Douglas County.