Charges Updated In Arizona College Stabbing
In a troubling incident at Arizona State University's West Valley campus, 19-year-old student Kaci Sloan entered a not-guilty plea in Maricopa County on Wednesday after being charged with an attack that left her fellow student, Mara Daffron, wounded. This disturbing event unfolded in a Glendale classroom last month, and while the attack appeared to be random and unprovoked, it has since sparked a flurry of reactions and concern from the ASU community.
Initially, Sloan faced four serious charges, including first-degree attempted murder, in connection with the stabbing on September 19th. However, after a preliminary hearing on September 30, two of those charges were dropped.
She now faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly conduct, according to court records. Judge Ashley Rahaman set Sloan's bail at $250,000 cash, outlining the conditions of her potential release should she be able to post it.
Eyewitness accounts paint a chaotic and distressing scene in the classroom that day. According to an affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital, Sloan allegedly walked up to Daffron and, without any warning or provocation, attacked her with a knife. Matthew McCormick, a fellow student, immediately sprang into action to stop the assault, an act that many believe may have saved Daffron’s life.
"In that moment, I didn't really have a thought going through my head, I just knew that I felt compelled to do something," McCormick recounted to FOX 10 Phoenix. His quick response, along with the actions of other students, was crucial in disarming Sloan and preventing further harm.
Witnesses told police that one of them managed to wrestle the knife from Sloan’s hand, while another kicked it to the back of the classroom to neutralize the threat.
The motive behind Sloan’s actions remains unclear, but police found a handwritten note inside her backpack that hinted at an act she was planning to commit, although it did not explicitly detail her intentions. During an interview with detectives following the incident, Sloan allegedly admitted that she intended to "hurt somebody" that day and specifically targeted Daffron because she considered her "an easier target" compared to another person she had initially thought of attacking, whom she described as "a veteran."
Following the attack, authorities quickly arrived on the scene and transported Daffron to a nearby hospital where she received medical treatment for her injuries. ASU Police detained Sloan immediately after the incident, charging her with first-degree attempted murder, aggravated assault, and disorderly conduct. The university expressed its deep sadness and concern over the event, noting that counseling support was being offered to all students and staff affected by the trauma of the attack.
"ASU and the entire ASU West Valley community are deeply saddened by what happened. ASU West Valley is a close-knit campus of students, faculty, and staff. Counseling support is available to all," said an ASU spokesperson in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Sloan’s initial pretrial conference is set for November 21, where the court will take a closer look at the evidence and possibly determine the next steps in her legal proceedings. The community remains on edge as it awaits further details about the case, hoping for answers to why this seemingly senseless attack took place.