Southwest
Navy veteran student recounts saving his ASU classmate from stabbing attack: 'Compelled to do something'
The quick action of a Navy veteran turned Arizona State University student may have saved the life of a fellow student, who was repeatedly stabbed in a seemingly random attack on campus.
On Sept. 19, Kaci Sloan, 19, allegedly lunged at Mara Daffron, 19, as the pair arrived for class at ASU’s West Valley campus in Glendale.
Police said that Sloan stabbed Mara twice before classmate and Navy veteran, Matthew McCormick, intervened.
“I’ve never seen anything like this and I hope I never do again,” McCormick told FOX 10 Phoenix.
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The veteran said that he was settling in his microeconomics class when he spotted Sloan lunging towards Daffron, saying that he immediately felt “compelled” to do something to help the situation.
“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.
I just knew that I felt compelled to do something…
The attack against Mara Daffron was apparently random, according to court documents. (Facebook)
McCormick’s quick action stopped Sloan – as she was going in for a third strike.
“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.
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Police corroborated McCormick’s account in a probable cause affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital, saying that one of the witnesses “was able to disarm the defendant by pulling the knife away from the defendant’s right hand and threw it [sic] away from them.” Another witness then “kicked the knife to the back of the classroom.”
Mara Daffron was allegedly stabbed twice in an ASU classroom by fellow student Kaci Sloan. (Facebook)
McCormick noted that he was not the only good Samaritan to step in, saying that they were “locked in.” Maricopa County authorities said that 13 witnesses were present at the horrific attack.
“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.
The stabbing occurred in a classroom on ASU’s campus on Sept. 19. (FOX 10 Phoenix)
After the attack, Daffron was transported to a nearby, where she underwent surgery following the attack.
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“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,” McCormick said.
Maricopa County authorities charged Kaci Lenise-Charlie Sloan, 19, with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly conduct with a weapon in connection with the attack against student Mara Daffron. (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)
According to court documents, one professor told police that the stabbing occurred “without any provocation or any words spoken.”
Chilling letters found by authorities following the stabbing showed that Sloan referenced an act she was “about to commit,” but it did “not specifically state what she was referring to.”
Sloan also apparently expressed the desire to “hurt somebody” in class that day in an interview with detectives after the alleged attack and chose to target Daffron because she was “an easier target” than the other person she apparently considered attacking.
Sloan is facing several charges in connection to the stabbing, including attempted murder in the first degree.
Fox News Digital’s Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.
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Los Angeles, Ca
Protests mark 1-year anniversary of federal agents storming L.A.’s Fashion District
Events and protests were held in downtown Los Angeles Saturday on the one-year anniversary of one of the largest immigration enforcement actions in California.
One June 6, 2025, federal agents stormed the L.A. Fashion District, arresting and detaining dozens of workers.
The enforcement action served as a catalyst, igniting a wave of subsequent raids across Southern California. In response, city leaders affirmed their “unwavering commitment to the immigrant communities” in Los Angeles, as events were held throughout the city to remember those who were deported and those whose immigration cases remain unresolved.
Protesters advocating for immigrant communities gathered outside a federal detention center in downtown Saturday, waving flags and signs. One woman was arrested during a clash with police.
The initial raid in the L.A. Garment District swept up workers, including the father of one woman who described the experience as “one of the most traumatic experiences” of their lives. This operation was among the first deportation actions that resulted in families being separated and triggered days of civil unrest.
At a commemoration event, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and the Executive Director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of L.A. stood together, vowing to protect immigrant communities living in fear.
“We all felt attacked, and I think what’s so critical today, is to know and remember and acknowledge that this is still going on every day,” Bass said.
While the Department of Homeland Security maintains that its enforcement operations target criminals, families of those detained argue that immigration enforcement terrorizes hardworking people. These families contend that many immigrants pay taxes and contribute to society, even if they are not U.S. citizens.
Immigration attorneys report that thousands of individuals are still trying to locate their loved ones. They also highlighted that hundreds of people swept up in immigration raids last year remain detained in facilities, facing medical neglect, inhumane conditions and the denial of basic due process protections.
Watch the full report from KTLA’s Sara Welch in the video at the top of this story.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KTLA. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat information into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KTLA staff before being published.
Los Angeles, Ca
Pasadena motorist knocked unconscious in unprovoked assault after other driver flashes high beams at him
A motorist was rendered unconscious after what authorities are calling an unprovoked attack that occurred after another driver flashed their high beams at him, authorities say.
According to the Pasadena Police Department, the victim, a 63-year-old man, was driving northbound on Raymond Avenue near Washington Boulevard when a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction flashed him around 1 a.m. Saturday.
“The victim reported that he was driving northbound on Raymond Avenue from Washington Boulevard when he observed a vehicle traveling southbound flashing its high beams at him,” a Pasadena Police Department spokesperson confirmed to KTLA. “The victim stated he stopped his vehicle and exited. He was then assaulted by an unknown suspect. The assault was unprovoked.”
The attack left the man unconscious and with a three-inch deep laceration to his head, police added. Upon regaining consciousness, the man transported himself to Huntington Hospital, and it was around 1:20 a.m. when police responded there to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon and began their investigation.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the victim told police that, due to his injuries, he was not able to provide a description of a suspect, vehicle or the weapon used, nor was he able to tell police the exact location where the assault occurred, although it was confirmed to be somewhere near Raymond Avenue and Washington Boulevard. La Pintoresca Park is located near that intersection.
No further details were immediately available.
Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to contact the Pasadena Police Department right away.
Sofia Pop Perez contributed to this report.
Los Angeles, Ca
Woman killed by driver while crossing PCH in Long Beach
A woman was struck and killed by a driver while crossing the street on Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach.
On June 3, the female pedestrian was using the crosswalk at Pacific Coast Highway and Pacific Avenue around 4:50 a.m.
She had walked against a red light and was hit by a 19-year-old driver in a Chevy sedan, Long Beach police said.
Despite lifesaving efforts, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.
“At this time, impaired driving, distracted driving and excessive speed are not believed to be a factor in this collision,” police said.
The woman’s name is being withheld pending identification by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information on the incident is asked to call Detective Joseph Johnson at 562-570-7355.
Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
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