Racially Motivated Attack in Arizona

This week in Arizona, a violent incident occurred that left two men injured, one of whom is elderly. Authorities report that the attack was racially motivated.

62-year-old Derek Carven confessed to targeting victims based on race at the Escalante Multigenerational Center in Tempe. His admission came to light through newly filed court documents, as noted in local news coverage.

“At that point, he pretty much lost control. He started hitting and throwing down these individuals,” an officer shared.

The assault left multiple victims seriously hurt, some with broken bones, according to the police department’s statement on Wednesday.

Carven entered a members-only area around 9 a.m. but was asked to leave since he wasn’t a member. He returned later that morning, and that’s when things escalated.

“He got angry when he was told to leave and then, well, he began attacking anyone in sight, many of whom were just waiting for lunch,” Officer Jessica Ells explained.

Eventually, security at the center managed to restrain Carven until police arrived on the scene.

Among those hurt, one individual ended up with a broken wrist while another suffered a broken nose. A third victim, who has autism and experiences seizures, was also assaulted.

Some victims had limited mobility, using walkers, making them especially vulnerable during the attack.

Additionally, one victim’s hearing aids were damaged, valued at around $4,000, and they expressed concern that the assault aggravated a prior heart condition.

Interestingly, during his police interview, Carven claimed that he believed he was told to leave due to his race. He explicitly stated that he targeted white and Mexican individuals, allegedly expressing a wish that at least one of his victims would die as a result of his actions.

Carven used derogatory language when referring to not only his victims but also police detectives during questioning, further highlighting his aggressive demeanor.

Initial approaches by the center staff to help Carven sign up for membership were thwarted as he lacked identification.

His criminal history is extensive, involving multiple felonies in Arizona and New Mexico, including aggravated assault and kidnapping, with outstanding warrants at the time of his recent arrest.

Carven now faces several serious charges, including multiple counts of aggravated assault and trespassing, and is currently held at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office on a $500,000 bond.