Arizona College Student Stabbing: Details and Developments
An alarming incident unfolded on September 19 when an Arizona State University (ASU) West student, Mara Daffron, was stabbed in a classroom by another student, Kaci Sloan. The event prompted swift responses from witnesses, law enforcement, and the university, raising concerns about campus safety and mental health. This article delves into the details of the incident, the subsequent legal proceedings, and the community's reaction.
The Stabbing Incident
On September 19, an ASU West student walked into a classroom on campus and was stabbed by another student. According to court documents, Kaci Sloan, a 19-year-old student, allegedly planned an attack and chose the victim, Mara Daffron, because she seemed like an "easier target." Prior to the class starting, Sloan ran and attacked the victim, stabbing the left side of her body multiple times before two witnesses intervened.
Matthew McCormick, an ASU West sophomore, was settling in to class when he heard his classmate Mara scream. That is when he realized she was being stabbed. "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 said. Police say fellow student, Kaci Sloan, stabbed Mara twice before McCormick was able to intervene. "As she was going for a third attack, I was able to grab her wrists and apprehend her before further damage could be done," he said.
Heroic Intervention and Immediate Response
The quick actions of a witness named Matthew McCormick likely saved Mara's life. McCormick says he was not the only person in the class to step in and help Mara. "It was a great job by everybody that was in that room; by the EMTs, the paramedics and police. Everybody responded really, really well. 9-1-1 calls were pretty instantaneous and everybody seemed pretty locked in and knew what to do," he said.
Authorities quickly arrived at the scene and took Daffron to a nearby hospital, where she received treatment. Mara was taken to Banner Thunderbird Hospital and underwent surgery for stab wounds to her tricep and her ribcage area, where the knife cut into her spleen. She's back home now, but has a long recovery ahead.
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Legal Proceedings and Charges
Maricopa County authorities initially arrested and booked Sloan, 19, on four counts, including first-degree attempted murder, in connection with the attack against student Mara Daffron. After a review of the charges submitted, on Sept. 30, the county attorney’s office charged Sloan with aggravated assault and disorderly conduct. Maricopa County authorities charged Kaci Sloan, 19, with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly conduct with a weapon in connection with the attack against student Mara Daffron. Sloan is facing several charges in connection to the stabbing, including attempted murder in the first degree. At her first court appearance, the judge said that her actions were comparable to a school shooting, and her bond was set at $250,000 cash only. Judge Ashley Rahaman also gave Sloan a cash bail of $250,000 and listed the conditions of her release should she be able to post bail in full. Sloan entered a not-guilty plea in Maricopa County on Wednesday after two of her four charges were dismissed last week. Sloan has an initial pretrial conference scheduled for Nov.
Mental Health Concerns
At the time of the incident, the police reported a notebook with letters to Sloan's family and friends in her backpack, which detailed struggles with mental health. After the prosecution's presentation concluded, the family of the defendant was allowed to speak on behalf of Sloan. Sloan's family also discussed what they had learned about in regards to her mental health struggles leading up to the incident. Sloan also spoke for herself. She said the incident was a "terrible choice" and expressed her regret for her actions. The defendant, as well as many of her family members, spoke on her behalf in the hearing.
University and Community Response
"ASU Police continue to investigate a Sept. 19 on-campus stabbing of a student. Kaci Sloan was immediately detained and arrested on suspicion of first-degree attempted murder; aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; interfering with an educational institution; and disorderly conduct. She is being held on a $250,000 cash only bond," an ASU spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement. "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."
Mara's family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with medical bills. McCormick says he hopes to meet Mara's family soon, but for now, hopes for a full recovery for his classmate. "We miss you. To you and your family, I pray for your return and I'm just so thankful that your family was able to remain whole through this tragedy," he said.
Another Stabbing Incident Involving UA Students
In a separate incident, UAPD responded to the area of Tyndall Avenue and University Boulevard due to a reference from the Tucson Police Department regarding a stabbing victim being seen at the location. Officers did not find any indication of a stabbing at the scene. Officers searched the dorm to find the victim with multiple abrasions across her torso, legs and arms. According to UAPD, two suspects named Ryan Marshall and Frankie Trotty were arrested in the emergency room following the incident. Neither man has any affiliation with the UA. The victim was able to pull a kitchen knife from a drawer and slash it at both men. Marshall sustained a stab to the back while Trotty received cuts to his hands. This caused Marshall and Trotty to run off in separate directions. The victim chased after Marshall and threw her knife at him as she chased him. Ryan Marshall was arrested and booked at the Pima County Jail for charges related to his breaking into the dorm room of a UA student that he had a domestic violence relationship with and assaulting her. He was given an 12-month exclusionary order from UA property. Both suspects were transported to the Pima County Jail. Marshall was arrested and booked for aggravated assault and kidnapping related to domestic charges as well as burglary while Trotty was arrested for trespassing of the first degree.
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