An Arizona State University student, Kaci Sloan, accused of stabbing a fellow student in a Glendale classroom last month, entered a not-guilty plea in Maricopa County. Sloan faced four charges initially, including first-degree attempted murder, but two charges were dismissed after a preliminary hearing.
Now, Sloan is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly conduct. The incident involved Sloan allegedly stabbing her classmate, Mara Daffron, multiple times in what appeared to be a random attack.
Witnesses, including a student named Matthew McCormick, intervened to stop the attack, potentially saving Daffron's life. Police reports indicate that the stabbing occurred without provocation or any prior interaction between the two students.
Authorities found a handwritten note in Sloan's backpack that hinted at an impending act, although it did not specify the nature of the act. Sloan reportedly expressed a desire to harm someone in class that day and chose Daffron as a target because she deemed her an 'easier target' than another individual she considered attacking.
Following the incident, Daffron was promptly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. ASU Police arrested Sloan on suspicion of multiple charges and set a cash bail of $250,000. The university expressed deep sadness over the incident and offered counseling support to the campus community.
The case is ongoing, with Sloan scheduled for an initial pretrial conference on Nov. 21. The ASU West Valley community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the stabbing as investigations into the incident persist.
