A student from Arizona State University is currently recuperating in a hospital after being assaulted by a fellow student. The incident took place last week when Kaci Sloan, 19, allegedly targeted her classmate, Mara Daffron, in a classroom in Glendale, Arizona. It is suggested that Sloan had been considering an attack on one of two individuals, but ultimately selected Daffron, whom she viewed as a less challenging target.
Court records indicate that Sloan is now facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly conduct with a weapon. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office stated that Daffron was immediately transported to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening after the assault. She has since undergone surgery and is currently in the process of recovery.
Sloan was detained shortly after the incident by the ASU Police Department. Court records disclose that Sloan had attended class with the intention of inflicting harm, although her exact motive remains uncertain. The records further state, “The defendant confessed she attended class with the intention to harm someone and had been planning the attack since the previous night.”
The court records also disclosed that Sloan had prepared for the attack by carrying a knife in her backpack to school. She was familiar with Daffron’s first name but did not know anything else about her. The two were classmates this semester, and Sloan had known Daffron from a previous class.
Daffron, however, was unaware of why she was targeted by Sloan. Following the assault, a GoFundMe page was established by neighbors to assist Daffron and her family during this difficult period. The page states, “We are confident that Mara will emerge stronger than ever from this unthinkable attack. She is making significant progress and is on the mend.”
Sloan is currently being held on a $250,000 cash bond, according to an ASU spokesperson. She is expected to return to court on September 30.