At least two victims sustained broken bones in the attack, while another victim reported fears that the assault may have aggravated a previous open-heart surgery.
Authorities have confirmed that an assault on six senior citizens at a Tempe, Arizona, community center last week was racially motivated. The accused assailant, 62-year-old Derek Carl Kirven, reportedly targeted victims based on their race and disclosed to detectives during interrogation that he hoped he had killed one of the victims, referring to them as a "confederate," "hillbilly," and "white trash."
The assault, captured on surveillance video, occurred on January 7 at the Escalante Multi-Generational Center. According to the Tempe Police Department, Kirven entered the center around 9 am and was ordered to leave by staff. He refused to comply and launched a violent assault, punching elderly victims and throwing several individuals to the ground, according to video footage.
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At least two victims sustained broken bones in the attack, while another victim reported fears that the assault may have aggravated a previous open-heart surgery. All six victims were elderly, and two of them required hospitalization, police said.
Court documents reveal that Kirven, a black male, admitted to targeting white and Mexican individuals specifically because of their race. He reportedly told officers he believed staff wanted him removed from the center due to his being black. Kirven further stated that he "does not like anybody other than black people" and expressed hope that he had killed more than one of the victims, as reported by Fox 10 Phoenix.
"Based on Derek's statements and own admission, these crimes were racially motivated, and Derek is racially biased," the court documents state. Kirven faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault, and remains in custody. Investigators noted that Kirven is a repeat offender with a criminal history.
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