Arizona College Student’s Attempted Murder Charge Dropped in Shocking Classroom Stabbing

An Arizona State University (ASU) student, Kaci Sloan, is facing widespread outrage after her attempted murder charges were dropped following a brutal stabbing attack on a fellow student. The incident, which occurred on September 19, 2024, left 19-year-old Mara Daffron seriously injured, prompting outrage from both the victim's family and the campus community.

Sloan, who is also 19, was initially charged with first-degree attempted murder after allegedly stabbing Daffron multiple times in a seemingly random and unprovoked attack during a class at ASU’s West Valley campus. Daffron, a sports business major, suffered significant injuries, including a ruptured spleen, which required emergency surgery. Witnesses described Sloan launching her assault without any warning, rushing at Daffron as she entered the classroom​.

🔥🚨DEVELOPING:Arizona college student accused in random classmate stabbing has attempted murder charge dropped with a $250,000 bail.

Approximately 13 witnesses present during the attack, including a professor, recounted the incident to police, who wrote in a probable cause… pic.twitter.com/63TgMxnUrv

— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) October 10, 2024

The attack, which occurred in front of over a dozen students and a professor, was halted when quick-thinking classmates intervened. Matthew McCormick, a Navy veteran, managed to grab Sloan’s wrists before she could inflict more damage. McCormick, along with another student, restrained Sloan until police arrived on the scene.

Sloan, who had no previous criminal record, later admitted to police that she had been planning the attack the night before. Court documents revealed that she had selected Daffron as her victim because she appeared to be an "easier target" than another student, a veteran she had also considered attacking. Authorities found handwritten notes in Sloan’s backpack, detailing her intention to harm someone, although no specific motive for the attack has been disclosed.

Harris campaign text targeting Arizona college students triggers state Senate investigation https://t.co/pxQEQEe4pr pic.twitter.com/bxhkWuojoT

— New York Post (@nypost) October 7, 2024

Despite the severity of the crime, a judge recently reduced Sloan’s charges, dropping the attempted murder accusation. She now faces lesser charges of aggravated assault and disorderly conduct, sparking outrage from Daffron’s family. The victim’s mother, Launi Daffron, expressed disbelief at the decision, questioning how the system could only consider the attack serious if her daughter had died from her injuries​.

The decision to reduce the charges has also raised concerns about potential leniency in the justice system. Sloan, who comes from a wealthy family in Glendale, Arizona, was granted a $250,000 bail. Some critics suggest that her privileged background may have influenced the outcome of her case, fueling further frustration among those advocating for justice on behalf of Daffron.

For her part, Daffron remains shaken and has since opted to continue her studies online, too traumatized to return to campus. Her recovery, while ongoing, has been marked by both physical pain and emotional distress, as she battles nightmares and lingering fear from the attack​.

Sloan’s next court hearing is set for November 2024, where she will face the reduced charges. Meanwhile, the ASU community has been left reeling from the incident, with many calling for increased security and mental health resources to prevent similar tragedies in the future​.